Long-time kit helicopter maker RotorWay International chose EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007 to introduce its latest model, the A600 Talon. Photo by Dave Higdon

RotorWay International, a leading manufacturer of experimental helicopter kits, announced Monday the A600 Talon, the next generation of its popular helicopter kit.

"You look at this helicopter behind me and ask what has changed," said Grant Norwitz, president and CEO of RotorWay, "and I have to answer everything, absolutely everything."

The Talon is wider and taller than the popular RotorWay Exec 162F. It has an improved full authority digital engine control (FADEC), a new drive system with hydraulic tensioning on the belts, and a new option for a tail rotor drive shaft. A glass cockpit is now standard.

While the Talon, like the current Exec model, will be available as a kit for the experimental market, RotorWay intends to eventually certificate the Talon. A manufacturing facility in South Africa has produced 17 aircraft. Certification efforts will begin in Australia and South Africa, and will continue into Europe. U.S. certification is expected to follow the European effort.

Norwitz also announced a new partnership with EAA. Among other things RotorWay has pledged two aircraft for use in EAA fundraising.

"We are going to start off by sponsoring the Young Eagles program. We are going to be the most aggressive flier of Young Eagles worldwide," Norwitz said. "We believe in supporting the organization that got us to where we are today."

Jeff Kaufman, EAA director of business development, thanked Norwitz for the generous donation. "We want to welcome RotorWay as a sponsor and as an aggressive sponsor at that," he said. "We at EAA certainly want to welcome all rotary wing fans and pilots and are very happy RotorWay is helping with that."

The A600 prototype had flown approximately 180 hours prior to EAA AirVenture. Ship dates for the new kit were not announced.

RotorWay’s display area is on the west side of AeroShell Square in the Main Aircraft Display area.