VERTICON TAKES OFF
Displaying in parent company Robinson
Helicopter Co.’s booth, Ascent AeroSystems unveiled its Helius micro-UAV, a coaxial aircraft aimed at the public safety industry. Small enough to fit in a cargo-pants or tactical-vest pocket, the hand-launchable aircraft includes a 4K camera with low-light capability, cellular connectivity, obstacle avoidance technology, and a recharge- able, field-swappable battery. Autonomous–air taxi manufacturer Wisk dis-
Joby Aviation made its VERTICON debut
this year with a mock- up of its six-rotor
aircraft. The aircraft is expected to enter
service in the United Arab Emirates in 2026.
played a small model of its Generation 6 eVTOL in parent company Boeing’s booth. Wisk reported its plans to launch the vehicle in Texas within the next decade.
Onward and Upward VERTICON 2025 marked the final VAI event for James Viola, the association’s president and CEO. After five years of service, Viola stepped down in mid-March to take the helm of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. VERTICON
2025 was the ideal send-off. “The changes we’ve made in the last five
years have set VAI on an upward vector, and I see the whole industry ready to continue to do good things within vertical aviation,” Viola says. “Helicopter operators are talking beyond helicop- ters now. They’re incorporating future vehicles into their missions, and that was my intent five years ago. It will be exciting to see where it goes in the future.” VAI is already deep into planning for VERTICON
2026 and hopes to see continued growth in participation from all sectors of the vertical flight industry. The 2026 show will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, Mar. 9–12 (exhibits open Mar. 10–12).
Jen Boyer is a journalist and marketing communicator specializing in aviation. She holds commercial, instrument, flight instructor, and instrument instructor ratings in helicopters and a private rating in airplanes.
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POWER UP JUN 2025
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