Skyryse Unveils a Helicopter with Just One Stick and Two Screens

Imagine flying a helicopter as easily as driving a car. The Skyryse One makes this possible with just one stick and two touchscreens, priced at $1.8 million.

Skyryse, an aviation company from California, has been active since 2016. They’ve been developing a semi-autonomous helicopter piloting system, which can be added to existing ones.

The Skyryse One is the first helicopter designed with this technology integrated, leading to a much simpler cockpit layout.

Skyryse’s operating system for their aircraft, known as SkyOS, uses fly-by-wire technology.

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Features of the Skyryse One:

1. Fly-By-Wire Flight System: A four-axis flight control system operated by the SkyOS operating system and fly-by-wire technology, not autopilot.
2. Dynamic Envelope Protection: Combines pilot inputs, environmental conditions, aircraft status, and flight parameters to maintain a safe flight envelope, ensuring high safety levels similar to fighter jets and airliners.
3. Fully Automated Autorotation: Automatically initiates autorotation in case of a power failure, automating glide, flare, and set-down while the pilot maintains control.
4. Auto-Pickup and Set-Down: Allows the helicopter to automatically pick up and set down upon the pilot’s command with a simple swipe on the screen.
5. Hover Assist: Simplifies hover control, assisting pilots by maintaining hover without the need for hands or feet to manage complex controls.
6. Inherent Stability: Continuously stabilized by SkyOS, enabling the helicopter to remain within a safe flight envelope even when the pilot releases the controls.
7. Swipe-to-Start: Automates the startup procedure, allowing the pilot to start the engine by swiping on the screen instead of following a lengthy manual process.
8. IFR-Capable: Fully certified for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) at a lower cost compared to traditional IFR-certified helicopters.

Like drive-by-wire in cars, this system replaces mechanical links between cockpit controls and flight components with electrical wiring.

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With this setup, traditional controls like the cyclic stick, collective lever, throttle, and anti-torque pedals don’t need to be physically present in the cockpit. Instead, their functions are programmed into SkyOS.

However, it’s important to note that SkyOS isn’t a complete autopilot system, according to Skyryse. The human pilot remains responsible for controlling the helicopter using a single four-axis control stick, although they receive significant assistance from the system.

To begin, SkyOS continuously analyzes pilot input, environmental conditions, aircraft status, and flight parameters. This allows it to automatically maintain the helicopter within a safe flight envelope, which includes factors like airspeed and altitude.

Additionally, there’s a Hover Assist feature that ensures stable hovering even when the pilot releases the control stick.

With simple swipes on the touchscreens, you can start the engine, complete the startup process, and activate automated takeoff and landing functions.

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Moreover, if there’s an engine power failure, SkyOS switches to autorotation mode automatically. This mode automates flight functions like gliding, flaring, and landing. However, the pilot retains manual control to ensure a safe descent to the ground.

With so much automation, you might wonder about the training needed to legally operate it.

All you need is a standard helicopter Private Pilot License, If you’re already licensed for an airplane, it’s just an extra 20 hours of flight training in a Skyryse One. explained Ray Wert, Skyryse’s VP of communications.

The company is now taking $2,500 fully refundable deposits from potential buyers, which will count towards a special introductory price of $1.8 million.

Deliveries are expected to start next year, once airworthiness certification is obtained. After these initial units, the price will depend on the order position and production schedule.