When it comes to "Kit-built helicopters," there are a few to choose from, but they always seem to have several things in common. Usually they are more like “hobby-copters”, with light weight construction and limited payload, though lots of fun to fly, but with minimal or no flight history.

So if we told you that an ex-US military helicopter, with a flight history dating back to the early 50’s, and designed by the father of helicopters himself, was available as a kit, would we get your attention?

There isn't much to choose from in the 4 place piston engine market, with a comparable popular helicopter, purchased new, costing in excess of $400,000 US. A year 2000 model can still be around $300,000 US. The Hummingbird 260L can provide that "4 seater comfort", along with "military strength", at around half that price.

The Hummingbird 260L helicopter is a modified Sikorsky S-52-3, originally designed for the United States Military as well as civilian operators. Numerous improvements have been incorporated into the helicopter, and the modifications have resulted in the latest model, the Hummingbird 260L. The Kit is manufactured by Vertical Aviation Technologies Inc. (USA), an FAA Approved Repair Station specialising in Helicopter research, development, design and manufacturing. They provide service and sales to an expanding worldwide aviation market.

By utilizing components from an FAA Type Certified helicopter, VAT was able to implement safety and reliability from years of proven flight time. By offering the Hummingbird 260L in kit form, and letting the owner build 51% of the final design, rotary wing pilots finally have access to an affordable, real helicopter.

The Hummingbird is a single engine helicopter, with a 3 blade main rotor and standard 2 blade tail rotor. The fuselage is made of Aluminium and fibreglass and is semi-monocoque in construction. This helicopter kit is generally considered in three major sections:

·        The engine section aft of the cabin

·        The passenger cabin section

·        The tail cone and tail rotor section

The Hummingbird is powered by a "Lycoming VO-435" engine, a tried and true certified powerplant, used in the famous "Bell 47G" and "J" series helicopters". Fuel is supplied from a single tank located beneath the main cabin. The transmission system consists of a coupling between the engine and main gearbox, a main drive shaft extending from the top of the main gearbox to the main rotor head, and a take-off drive from the main gearbox, which drives the tail rotor drive shaft and the tail rotor head.

A quadri-cycle type landing gear, equipped with durable shock absorbing struts and hydraulic brakes is also installed on the Hummingbird… to ably handle landings on a variety of ground surfaces.

"They’ve saved the easiest part for you…the assembler."

The owner will enjoy learning how to assemble components for this full sized helicopter, from complete instruction manuals, engineering drawings, cutaway views and photographs. Vertical Aviation Technologies Inc., offers the Hummingbird in Kit, semi-completed and fully completed versions.. By assembling the helicopter themselves, owner/pilots save tens of thousands of dollars. During the assembly phases, they will also learn how to properly maintain the Hummingbird.
Under the FAA "Kit-built" (Experimental) and the CASA Australian "Amateur-built" categories, the owner/pilot can personally maintain and register the helicopter.