The Hummingbird is a development of the certified Sikorsky S-52 that first flew in 1947, adapted to kit form. The aircraft features a single main rotor, a four-seat enclosed cabin, quadracycle landing gear and a choice of two powerplants. The prototype was converted by Vertical Aviation Technologies from a Sikorsky S-52-3. The Hummingbird fuselage is made from riveted aluminum sheet. The nose section is adapted from the Bell 206. Its 33 ft (10.1 m) diameter fully articulated three-bladed main rotor employs a NACA 0015 airfoil. The two-bladed tail rotor has a diameter of 5.75 ft (1.8 m). The aircraft has an empty weight of 1,850 lb (839 kg) and a gross weight of 2,800 lb (1,270 kg), giving a useful load of 950 lb (431 kg). With full fuel of 57 U.S. gallons (220 L; 47 imp gal) the payload is 608 lb (276 kg). At least two Hummingbirds have operated in Australia, VH-NOS and VH-MPB, and one in New Zealand, ZK-IBU, but only VH-MPB is active on the register.
