“From high above, this land is but a map,” wrote the Hungarian poet Miklós Radnóti. But for those who live and work here, flying is not about looking down on an unfamiliar landscape. It is about seeing new possibilities from a new perspective.
This idea also inspired the Hungaro Copter: a Hungarian-developed helicopter born from a passion for aviation and years of determined engineering work.
At a time when environmental concerns are more urgent than ever, it is fair to ask whether the world really needs more aircraft. But in many situations, flying remains one of the fastest and most effective ways to travel or respond to urgent needs. The real question, then, is how to fly more safely, economically and efficiently.
This is where the development by STEEL RIDERS Kft. becomes especially interesting. With EU funding, the company set out to create an ultralight, two-seat helicopter with hybrid propulsion. The project strengthened Hungarian research, development and innovation, while also improving the company’s international competitiveness through a market-ready product.
The result is an ultralight helicopter that takes a very different approach from large, traditional rotorcraft. It was not designed as a luxury vehicle or a military machine, but as an easy-to-operate, economical aircraft for two people, with much lower operating costs than larger helicopters.
One of its key innovations is the hybrid propulsion system. It enables more energy-efficient operation and also adds an important safety reserve. In an emergency, such as engine failure, the electric backup system can power the helicopter for a few minutes on its own, giving the pilot time to land safely. This makes the solution a genuinely pioneering development.
STEEL RIDERS Kft. has more than 20 years of experience in precision component manufacturing. The company began as a small workshop and gradually grew into a modern, high-capacity production base. Today, its main activity is manufacturing CNC-machined components for industrial partners in Hungary and abroad.
The company had already worked with the aviation industry as a component supplier, gaining valuable experience with strict quality requirements. This background, combined with a passion for flying and a highly skilled team, led to the idea of developing its own helicopter.
The engineers went through a long development process before the first successful take-off. External experts and university partners also supported the work, while the team continuously refined the design. From the beginning, their goal was to create a helicopter that could compete internationally in flight performance, handling and efficiency. Based on market needs, they also planned two versions with different engine power levels for different uses.
The Hungaro Copter is designed for a wide range of applications. It can be used in civilian and military pilot training, disaster management, damage assessment after natural events, monitoring hard-to-reach areas and searching for missing persons. It also offers opportunities in tourism, nature photography and film production.
The helicopter has already appeared at several exhibitions in Hungary and abroad, and test pilots have praised its dynamics and handling. The company’s motto, “innovation born of passion,” sums up the project well: years of committed work have led to a successful Hungarian-developed aircraft with real market potential.
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project GINOP-2.1.2-8-1-4-16-2017-00191 under the Economic Development and Innovation Operational Programme Plus.
Find out more about the project in the Project Finder:Details
