Personal eVTOL from Pivotal, USA
Pivotal Helixprice, release date and specs
Pivotal is taking orders for the production Helix and told reporters in 2026 it expected first customer deliveries by the end of the year. No Helix customer delivery had been reported as of August 2026. In August 2026 a Hyde County, North Carolina paramedic flew a preproduction BlackFly herself to two live 911 calls.
How far it has got
- Prototype
- Testing
- Certifying
- Certified
- Delivering
Testing: flying as a test aircraft.
You can reserve one, but deliveries haven't started.
Pivotal takes a fully refundable $9,000 reservation for a 2027 delivery position, then a $50,000 deposit to start production. Buyers train with Pivotal and collect the aircraft from its Palo Alto, California, headquarters or arrange delivery. Sales are US-only.
Watch it fly
Video from Pivotal on YouTube. It loads only when you press play.
Key facts
- Production version of the Opener BlackFly. Opener became Pivotal and announced the Helix in October 2023; orders opened in January 2024.
- Single-seat tandem-wing aircraft that cruises at about 62 mph, with up to 20 minutes or 20 miles of flight per charge.
- Base price $190,000. Fox News reported in February 2026 that a trailer adds about $21,000 and a charger about $1,100.
- About a dozen BlackFly aircraft have been sold to private owners since 2021, and Pivotal reports more than 10,000 fleet flights.
- Delivery dates have slipped: first shipments were promised for June 2024, then 2026, and Pivotal's site now offers 2027 delivery positions.
Price and how to order
Do you need a license to fly the Pivotal Helix?
Pivotal says the Helix is an FAA Part 103 ultralight, so no pilot certificate, medical certificate or registration is legally required. Part 103 limits it to one occupant flying for recreation or sport, under 254 lb empty weight (floats and emergency safety devices excluded), at no more than 55 knots (63 mph), with no more than 5 US gallons of fuel. Flights are allowed only between sunrise and sunset, away from congested areas and crowds, and outside controlled airspace near airports unless ATC approves. Pivotal still requires its own training before delivery; Fox News reported that this includes ground school and the FAA knowledge test.
Specifications
Questions people ask
How much does the Pivotal Helix cost?
The Helix starts at $190,000 before sales tax, shipping and options. That is the base price Pivotal announced in October 2023, and it was still being quoted in 2026. In 2024 the higher packages cost $240,000 and $260,000.
When can you buy the Pivotal Helix?
You can reserve one now with a refundable $9,000 payment, which Pivotal's site says secures a 2027 delivery position. Pivotal told reporters in 2026 that it expected first Helix customer deliveries by the end of 2026, but none had been reported as of August 2026.
Do you need a pilot's license to fly the Pivotal Helix?
No pilot's license is legally required, because Pivotal classes the Helix as an FAA Part 103 ultralight. You must still complete Pivotal's training before delivery, which most customers finish in under two weeks. Part 103 also means one person on board, daylight flights only, no flying over towns or crowds, and ATC permission for controlled airspace.
Has the Pivotal Helix actually flown?
Yes, in its BlackFly form. Pivotal reports more than 10,000 flights across its fleet, including privately owned BlackFly aircraft, and in August 2026 a North Carolina paramedic flew a preproduction BlackFly herself to two live 911 calls. The production Helix had not been reported delivered to a customer as of August 2026.
Sources
- Pivotal: Helix product page (October 2026)
- Pivotal: Pivotal starts selling Helix, the first production light eVTOL aircraft in the US (January 2024)
- Pivotal: Pivotal Response (public safety) (October 2026)
- Fox News: Flying car Helix by Pivotal now available for $190,000 reservations (February 2026)
- Aviation Week: Pivotal clears key milestone for Helix eVTOL (February 2026)
- autoevolution: Paramedic responding to an actual 911 call flies himself in an eVTOL for the first time ever (August 2026)
- Startup Selfie: Pivotal Helix is a personal electric aircraft that needs no runway (August 2026)
- Electric VTOL News (evtol.news): Pivotal Helix (production model) (May 2024)
- Cornell LII: 14 CFR 103.1 Applicability (ultralight vehicles) (October 2026)
Last checked October 17, 2026. Makers revise prices and dates often; confirm with Pivotal before paying a deposit. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
