Verticon helicopter show touches down in Dallas

Dallas says welcome to Verticon 2025 today. (Photocredit: Shuttterstock).

Verticon 2025, billed as the world’s largest vertical aviation event, opens its doors to showgoers in Dallas, Texas tomorrow. This year’s event has attracted more than 15,000 visitors from over 85 countries, according to the organisers. Over 600 exhibitors are appearing at this year’s show.

About 60 aircraft will be on display at the annual conference and exposition. More than 35 helicopters arrived by air at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in the city. Additional aircraft arrived by ground transport.

Many of the helicopters flying into this year’s event will be fuelled by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), said organisers Vertical Aviation International (VAI), formerly known as Helicopter Association International.

This initiative is said to highlight VAI’s commitment to sustainability in aviation and reducing the industry’s environmental impact. “By utilising SAF at Verticon, VAI aims to support operators’ adoption of cleaner energy solutions, promote industry-wide sustainability efforts, and demonstrate the viability of SAF in rotorcraft applications,” VAI said in a statement.

The future of vertical aviation depends on our ability to innovate and adopt sustainable solutions, added James Viola, president and CEO of VAI. “By using SAF at Verticon, we are taking a meaningful step toward reducing aviation’s carbon footprint and fostering a cleaner, more sustainable future for helicopter operations,” he said.

A renewable alternative to traditional jet fuel, SAF can cut life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% while maintaining the same performance and safety standards, according to the organisers.

Last year’s event was staged in Anaheim, California.

Meanwhile, Helicopter Investor is excited to be attending this year’s event in Dallas. Watch out for more reports later this week. And if you have a topic you would like us to cover, please email Mike Stones.