A Primary Category Rotorcraft is of simple design and is intended exclusively for pleasure; personal or light commercial use, flight instruction, and rental, with a seating capacity of four, it may be powered by a single, naturally aspirated engine and a 6 pound per square foot main rotor disc loading limitation .

The  model S-52L helicopter meets these requirements. In addition, the certification basis chosen and accepted by the FAA is FAR 27, with later sections of FAR 27 requiring occupant protection, i.e. cabin containment, fuel crashworthiness and additional safety seating requirements. This combined with the perfect safety record of the Hummingbird helicopters will make safety the top scoring point especially for the tourism and training markets.

The S-52L has been redesigned ground up in order to meet these latest certification requirements. The basic design parameters such as airframe, rotor system, transmission and powerplant remain the same, however tail surfaces, fuel system, electrical, instrumentation, interior, and flight controls have been redesigned. The powerplant is the purpose built VA-540 a Continental Titan six cylinder, 325 h.p.  fuel injected engine, manufactured and supported by Continental Aerospace Motors for the Hummingbird.

Safety features include FAR 27 occupant safety requirements addressing fuel crash worthiness and  fires, seat and surrounding structure protection, energy absorbing wheeled landing gear, automatic collective pitch reduction in the event of engine/rotor drive failure and no control restrictions with the smooth three blade articulated rotor.

The S-52L Hummingbird boast comfortable roomy four place tandem seating, amazing controlability and handling qualities, automatic rotor/clutch engagement, a 1000 lb (450Kg) payload,   VAT  exceptional customer support, with no calendar life and no 12 yearly’s.