magniX and Robinson partner to develop electric helicopter demonstrator 

magniX, a US firm developing electric propulsion systems for aircraft, has partnered with the Robinson Helicopter Company to develop a battery-electric helicopter demonstrator based on the popular R66 model. 

This first flight of this new electrically powered helicopter is expected to take place in late 2026, with magniX supplying the fully integrated powertrain and batteries. 

In June 2024, magniX launched its own battery pack, the “Samson”, and, in March 2025, an electric motor, called “HeliStorm”, designed specifically for the helicopter market. The HeliStorm, which operates at speeds of 6,000-7,000 RPM (Revolution Per Minute), is lighter than turbine engines for the same category of aircraft. 

While Robinson claims the top spot in the global ranking of helicopter bestsellers (nearly 6,000 units of the R44 have been sold since its launch and the more modern R66 has already sold more than 1,500), magniX, which is known for its pioneering work in electric aviation, can also claim some firsts. 

In 2022, magniX successfully flight-tested the first retrofitted electric R44 helicopter and, in March 2025, completed the world’s first piloted hydrogen-electric helicopter flight. 

Robinson’s CEO, David Smith, has been very vocal in the public sphere about the potential of proven and tested rotorcraft platforms for electrification, comparing them to more technically immature eVTOL concepts. 

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