INTRODUCING THE

Over twelve years in the making, the Helix is Pivotal's first aircraft to be produced at scale, created to bring the wonder of flight to anyone with a spirit of adventure.

Advancing the design of the Pivotal BlackFly currently flown by our early access pilots, the Helix offers higher performance, greater ease of flight, and enhanced dependability. In addition, rigorous simulator and flight training sessions are required for pilot qualification from Pivotal.

A wide-angle view and quiet operation allow pilots to better appreciate their natural surroundings and also foster a deep connection to the flying experience.

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Pivotal's Helix with a topographical backgroud design.
A front facing view of Pivotal Helix with the Helix logo above.

Key Features

The Helix is a modern take on traditional aviation. Electric power, digital instruments, and simple controls make the Helix an ideal aircraft for experienced pilots and newcomers alike.

From nose to tail, the Helix offers built-in features that provide safety, comfort, and maximum enjoyment in flight.

Pivotal is here to support our pilots at every step of their journey, whether they are seasoned pilots or this is their first time at the flight controls. A critical element of Helix pilot success is the training we deliver to our pilots.

Product Description

Aircraft Type

  • Tilt aircraft with fixed rotors and tandem wings
  • Light eVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing)
  • Single seat PAV (Personal Aerial Vehicle)

Classification

  • Part 103 Ultralight, United States
  • Amphibious capability
Physical Characteristics

Structure

  • Carbon fiber composite

Aircraft Dimensions

  • 14 ft 11 in wide
  • 14 ft 8 in long
  • 5 ft 4 in high (on flat ground)
  • 33.13 ft2 (single wing area)

Aircraft Weight

  • 254 lbs empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices
  • BlackFly maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) 548 lbs
  • Helix maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) 578 lbs

Pilot Weight and Height

  • Up to 220 lbs
  • Up to 6' 5" standing height
  • Up to 3' 3" seated height
Mobile App

Preflight Features

  • Smart checklists
  • Aircraft status

Navigation Tools

  • Flight planning
  • Navigational charts

Flight Analytics

  • Flight review
  • Stats and telemetry

Support and Community

  • Customer support
  • Service inquiries
  • Pilot forum

Mobile Device Compatibility

  • Supports iOS 16+
Energy and Performance

Range, with 20% Reserve

  • 20+ miles

Batteries

  • 8 kWh total storage

Charge time

  • Level 2 charger: 240 V / 50 A, charge from 20% - 95%: 75 mins
  • Level 1 charger: 120 V / 15 A, charge from 20% - 95%: 4.5 hrs

Energy Consumption Comparison

  • Helix: 245 Wh/mile
  • Electric car: 270 Wh/mile

Performance at Maximum Takeoff Weight

  • Cruise speed 55 knots (63 mph)
  • Maximum climb rate 500 fpm
  • Maximum descent rate 500 fpm

Maximum Static Thrust

  • 960 lbs
Flight Deck

Built-in Digital Flight Panel

  • In-flight navigation, instruments, and aircraft status
  • User tested for simplicity and ease of use
  • Modern design incorporating aviation essentials

Controls

  • Joystick, fly-by-wire electrical controls

Canopy

  • Forward hinging and latching mechanism
  • Designed for maximum field of view

Ventilation

  • Sliding vents built into the canopy
Operating Characteristics

Safety

  • Triple-modular redundancy
  • Fault-tolerant design features throughout
  • 8 fixed propulsors tolerant to loss of 1 rotor
  • 4 split elevon pairs for redundancy
  • Ballistic parachute

Weather Conditions

  • Maximum wind: 17 knots (20 mph)
  • Temperature range: 14 °F to 91 °F (-10 °C to 33 °C)
  • Non-precipitating

Landing Surfaces

  • Grass, asphalt, pavement, snow, ice

Sound Level (measured at 150 ft)

  • Helix (in cruise mode): 72 dBA
  • Electric car: 76 dBA
  • Motorcycle: 80+ dBA
Exterior Features

Safety

  • Landing camera
  • ADS-B transponder
  • Beacon lights

Appearance

  • Combination vinyl, carbon fiber, and paint finish
  • Canvas aircraft cover
Ground Operations

Transportation

  • Disassembles and fits into a 16 ft trailer

Assembly

  • From storage to flight in 30 minutes

Designed and built for safety

At Pivotal, innovation begins and ends with safety, so you can enjoy your flight from takeoff to landing. Safety touches everything we do, from product design to pilot training, data-driven flight reporting, and technical support. Here are the safety features you can count on from Pivotal:
Helix side view
Tilt Aircraft Aero Architecture
  • Entire aircraft tilts to transition between hover and cruise
  • Simplicity; no tilting propellers or rotating wings
  • Reduced weight, complexity, and points of failure
Fault-Tolerant Systems
  • Triple redundant flight control system
  • 8 rotors: 6 required for flight and landing
  • Split elevons tolerate servo failure
Flight Control
  • Auto-takeoff and auto-land features
  • Flight envelope protection
  • Position hold in hover
Simple User Interface
  • Intuitive left and right handed joysticks
  • Fly-by-wire controls
  • Flight panel with navigation and flight data
Safe Landings
  • More landing surface options without landing gear
  • Amphibious hull and floats for emergency landing
  • Whole aircraft ballistic parachute system
Training And Support
  • Extensive hands-on simulator and flight training
  • Interactive pre-flight experience
  • Aircraft designed for minimal maintenance
Vehicle Health Monitoring
  • Capturing thousands of diagnostic data points on every flight
  • In-vehicle and cloud-based diagnostics
  • Automated push notifications and enhancements
Proven, Continuous Evolution
  • Aircraft design improvements over 12 years
  • Five major platform generations since 2011
  • Dozens of aircraft built, tested, and flown
Helix Cross View
Helix Side View
Helix Front View

Ordering the Helix

Be one of the first to own the eVTOL changing the future of flight. We're now taking orders for shipment in early 2025.

You don't need a pilot’s license, though there are some simple height, weight, and location requirements we'll walk you through. If you meet the eligibility requirements, choose from three great packages starting at $190,000, with optional upgrades like custom exterior design, premium flight deck, and 4k camera with landing assist and sharing features.

The Helix payment schedule is in three installments. You'll pay a refundable $9,000 initial deposit when you place the order, followed by a refundable $50,000 second deposit that allows you to secure the ship date for your aircraft and schedule your flight training at our Customer Center in Palo Alto. The final balance is due five days before your aircraft is scheduled to ship.

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HELIX PILOT TRAINING - Transforming Dreams into Reality

Your Helix adventure begins with pilot training. Pivotal's in-depth training program, led by industry-leading instructors, is customized to your piloting skills, and transforms you into a proficient Helix pilot through a series of ever-greater milestones.

All Helix pilots must be trained and qualified before Pivotal ships aircraft to their location. Enrollment prerequisites include meeting age, weight, and height requirements.

Most trainees become qualified with two weeks of onsite training at our Palo Alto headquarters and local training sites.

On successful completion of Pivotal's proficiency-based assessments, you'll possess the skills and confidence needed to fly safely and enjoy the aerial world.

Key program components

Ground School

You will learn essential aeronautical concepts, such as airspace, aircraft systems, aerodynamics, and weather. The structured online curriculum delivers the fundamental concepts underlying Helix operation.

Aircraft Handling

You will develop hands-on, practical expertise by engaging with the Helix aircraft, charging systems and support equipment on the ground to conduct pre-flight checks, routine maintenance, aircraft assembly, charging, and software updates.

Simulator Training

Our custom-engineered flight simulators deliver a life-like flight experience that helps you learn to navigate adeptly in both standard and emergency flight scenarios. The immersive 3D virtual reality environment prepares you for the real thing.

Flight Training

Once in the Helix flight deck, you will put the building blocks in place and practice key maneuvers in hover and cruise mode. Two-way communications with your instructor and remote aircraft monitoring provide safety and support throughout every flight.

Supplementary Training

For Helix pilots who want to maintain their skills, learn advanced techniques, or take a refresher class after a break from flying, Pivotal offers supplementary training to regain currency or acquire advanced techniques beyond standard proficiency.

Friends and Family Training

Share your Helix and love of flight with friends and family. Like you, they can complete the Helix training program, get qualified, and become eligible to fly your Helix. Consider training and achieving milestones together from the get-go.

Let's confirm your flight eligibility

Even though you don't need an FAA pilot license to fly the Helix, here are some important requirements about the pilot and flight locations:

Age Requirement

The FAA classifies the Helix as a Part 103 Ultralight aircraft and requires pilots to be 18 years or older.

Weight Limit

Based on the Helix’s thrust and battery reserve, the operational weight limit for pilots is 220 lbs.

Height Limit

The Helix airframe and canopy limit the standing height of pilots to 6’ 5” and seated height to 3’ 3”. Seated height is the distance from the base of the sitting surface to the top of your head, with your back held straight.

Location Requirements

The Helix conforms to the FAA Part 103 Ultralight regulations in the United States only. The FAA requires Ultralight aircraft to fly over non-congested areas only and away from airports.

Altitude Requirements

The Helix may fly in areas up to 5,000 feet above sea level at operating temperatures between 14°F and 91°F. Contact us if you plan to fly in an area over 5,000 feet above sea level, and we will evaluate the suitability of our aircraft for your environment.

If all the statements above are true, you are cleared for takeoff and eligible to buy a Helix.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Helix Order + Payment Schedule

Payment Schedule