Sit inside a helicopter and you’ll be presented with a complicated interface of controls. You’ll have a cyclic in one hand, a collective in the other, feet on the pedals, and a myriad of manual switches and dials covering the cockpit. But what if advanced computer systems could replace all this complexity with a single stick? That is a question asked and answered by Skyryse, the Californian creator of Skyryse One. Their modified fly-by-wire R66 received a Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA in October 20241.

Skyryse One

Skyryse One maintains the basic airframe and Rolls Royce RR300 powerplant as the Robinson R66, but that’s where the similarities end. Fly-by-wire hardware and custom SkyOS software enables an intuitive pilot experience, IFR capability, and fully-automated autorotation. All this means that Skyryse One promises to be extremely easy to fly.

From the aviation insurer’s perspective, Skyryse One represents an interesting trend in the aviation industry. As evermore sophisticated aircraft rely on advanced systems, insurers will of course need to understand their integrity and redundancy while also upholding the same standards of pilot experience and training, especially where simplified flight controls make aviation more accessible.

Skyryse is targeting initial deliveries in 2025.

1 Skyryse receives FAA certificate to take next step toward production of Skyryse One

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