Helix-Carbon
Helix-Carbon GmbH is a German manufacturer (founded 1990) of handcrafted carbon fiber composite propellers for light aviation, ultralights, paramotors, eVTOLs, and military UAVs, distributing through 255+ global dealers and serving individual pilots and OEMs like Pipistrel.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersWürselen, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Helix-Carbon does
Helix-Carbon GmbH is a Würselen, Germany-based manufacturer (founded 1990) specializing in handcrafted carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) propellers for light aviation, with a complementary industrial carbon components line. Its core technology centers on CFRP composite propeller design, anchored by proprietary inventions such as the 1994 Helix plug-in system (a global standard for detachable fixed-pitch blades) and the H60A fully automatic in-flight adjustable constant-speed propeller introduced in 2022. The product portfolio spans diameters from 0.75m to 2.8m, power compatibility from 5 to 250 kW, and configurations from fixed-pitch through ground-adjustable to in-flight-adjustable, with the recently introduced ARC (Advanced Rotor Concept) family and VTL "Talon" line targeting Light Sport Aircraft and Ultralight segments, and a development pipeline for low-noise "Whisper" propellers for electric aircraft under the FlüsterProp.NRW program.
The company operates a hybrid revenue model combining unit hardware sales (propellers and accessories) with custom R&D and engineering services (large fans, cooling propellers up to 3.5m diameter, ICAO Annex 16-compliant noise measurement). Distribution is executed primarily through a global network of 255+ dealers (aircraft dealers, manufacturers, engine manufacturers, flight schools, paramotor and gyrocopter specialists) with direct consultation for custom/enterprise orders, plus a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront limited to merchandise and accessories. The customer base spans individual paramotor pilots (tens of thousands), European light aircraft OEMs (Pipistrel, JMB, Alpi, Aerospool, Comco Ikarus), military UAV programs (German Bundeswehr KZO), industrial clients, and high-profile research collaborations (SolarStratos, CERN). Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
Helix holds EASA Part 21G production organization certification (DE.21G.0126, granted 2020) and multiple EASA Type Certificates (first for H50F in 2010 under EASA.P.502), plus DIN EN 9100 quality certification, and maintains an offshore production line via its Thailand subsidiary Helix Composites (established 2007). The company sells more than 10,000 propellers annually and has delivered over 100,000 cumulative units worldwide, with research partnerships ongoing with RWTH Aachen and FH Aachen universities.
Helix-Carbon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Helix-Carbon
- Legal name
- Helix-Carbon GmbH
- Website
- https://helix-propeller.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Helix-Carbon GmbH is a German manufacturer (founded 1990) of handcrafted carbon fiber composite propellers for light aviation, ultralights, paramotors, eVTOLs, and military UAVs, distributing through 255+ global dealers and serving individual pilots and OEMs like Pipistrel.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Helix-Carbon industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerospace Propellers
- NAICS
- Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)
- SIC
- Aircraft & Parts (3720), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Propellers, Rotors & Open-Rotor Propulsors (IMABADAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Rotorcraft Airframes, Structures & Composites (IMABABAD)
Keywords
Where Helix-Carbon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Würselen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Helix-Carbon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Carbon Fiber Propeller Sales: Primary revenue stream from designing and manufacturing carbon composite propellers for various aircraft applications including paramotors, ultralight aircraft, light sport aircraft, eVTOL, and military UAVs. Propellers are sold through dealers and direct consultation due to the technical complexity of matching propellers to specific aircraft/engine configurations.
- E-commerce Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including patches, caps, gaiters, mugs, keychains, and tie-down straps through their online shop. This is a secondary revenue stream.
- Custom R&D and Engineering Services: Research and development services for custom propeller design and manufacturing. They undertake continuous projects for industrial clients, producing large fans, cooling propellers, and high-load-bearing carbon components for machine production and plant construction.
- Noise Measurement Services: Provides noise measurement services for aircraft propellers, including ICAO Annex 16 standard-compliant testing using certified noise measurement systems and acoustic cameras.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | H30F Paramotor Propeller - €330.00 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Helix Merchandise - €4.99 to €24.99 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom/Industrial Propellers - Quote-based |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Helix-Carbon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Helix-Carbon GmbH designs and manufactures handcrafted carbon fiber composite propellers for aviation applications including paramotors, ultralight aircraft, light sport aircraft, eVTOL/multicopters, and military UAVs. The company also provides custom R&D engineering services for industrial clients (large fans, cooling propellers, high-load-bearing carbon components) and ICAO-compliant noise measurement services for propeller certification.
Product overview
Helix-Carbon GmbH is a German manufacturer of carbon fiber propellers founded in 1990, offering a comprehensive portfolio of handcrafted propeller products across multiple aviation segments. The product lineup includes: (1) Airplane/Gyro/Trike propellers including the H42A Constant Speed Propeller (lightweight, in-flight adjustable), VTL 'Talon' and ARC Propellers (LSA/UL market), H50F (EASA-certified fixed-pitch), and H60A series (in-flight adjustable with hydraulic/electric variants); (2) Paramotor propellers including the popular H30F series with Vittorazi approval; (3) eVTOL/Multicopter propellers for civilian and military applications; and (4) Scimitar Propellers with unique blade geometry. The company also offers propellers sized from 0.75m to 2.8m diameter, with over 850 propeller molds and more than 1,000 models available. Supporting services include Noise Measurement, Research & Development, Test Flight Programs, and an online Shopify-based shop for merchandise. The company holds EASA Part 21G production certification and has delivered more than 100,000 propellers worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FlüsterProp.NRW / Whisper Propeller: Low-noise carbon fiber propeller technology for electric aircraft, developed under the state-funded FlüsterProp.NRW project.
Products and services
- H42A Constant Speed Propeller Lightweight in-flight adjustable propeller with fully automatic pitch adjustment for optimized performance across varying flight conditions, designed for light aircraft and gyrocopter applications.
- VTL 'Talon' Propeller Variable pitch propeller designated as part of the ARC propeller family for Light Sport Aircraft and Ultralight market applications.
- H30F Paramotor Propeller Handcrafted carbon fiber propeller designed for paramotor applications, Vittorazi Approved for motor warranty validity. Available in various configurations including 1.30m diameter for Vittorazi Moster 185 engine at €330.
- H50F Propeller Fixed-pitch propeller with the Helix detachable plug-in system, certified under EASA Type Certificate EASA.P.502. Suitable for various light aircraft applications.
- H60A Propeller Series In-flight adjustable propeller available in hydraulic and electric variants, upgraded to 180 hp capacity. Includes ground-adjustable (H60V) and in-flight-adjustable (H60A) configurations.
- ARC Propellers New propeller designation introduced in 2025 representing a family of propellers designed for the LSA and UL market, including the VTL 'Talon' series.
- eVTOL / Multicopter Propellers Propeller and rotor systems designed for multicopter and eVTOL vehicles for both civilian and military applications, powering computer-aided flight systems.
- Scimitar Propeller Propeller with blades bending against the turning direction, developed for Fresh Breeze with unique blade geometry for specific performance characteristics.
- Propeller Spinners Carbon fiber propeller spinners available in diameters from 200mm to 300mm with conical or round nose options, designed to fit fixed pitch, adjustable, and automatic propellers.
- Propeller Sleeves Protective sleeves for H30F and H50F propellers, available in 2-blade and universal designs with hook and loop fastening for easy application.
- Noise Measurement Service Professional noise measurement services for aircraft propellers, including ICAO Annex 16 standard-compliant testing using certified noise measurement systems and acoustic cameras, supporting certification processes and performance evaluation.
- Research and Development Service Custom propeller design and development services from concept to construction, utilizing extensive experience in carbon fiber composite manufacturing. Includes development of large fans, cooling propellers, and high-load-bearing carbon components for industrial clients.
- Test Flight Program Test flight opportunities allowing customers to experience Helix propellers on their aircraft, available at the Aachen/Merzbrück airport or through mobile testing.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100,000+ propellers delivered worldwide
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Helix-Carbon
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Helix-Carbon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Helix-Carbon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and flagship.
- RWTH Aachen UniversitycoreOngoing collaboration with RWTH Aachen University as an academic partner, ensuring Helix remains at the forefront of innovation in carbon composite propeller technology.
- FH Aachen UniversitycoreCollaborative partnership for R&D. FH Aachen serves as project lead for the FlüsterProp.NRW whisper propeller development project with total funding of approximately €900,000. They developed 'PropCODE' proprietary optimization software in partnership with Helix.
- Westflug Aachen Luftfahrtgesellschaft GmbH & Co. KGcoreProject partner in the FlüsterProp.NRW initiative providing aircraft operations and maintenance for testing whisper-quiet propellers on the Pipistrel Velis Electro.
- PipistrelmajorCooperation with Pipistrel, one of the major aircraft manufacturers. Pipistrel's Velis Electro electric training aircraft is the primary test platform for Helix's FlüsterProp.NRW whisper propeller project.
- JMB AircraftmajorCooperation with JMB Aircraft, one of the major manufacturers listed for 2025 collaboration.
- Alpi AviationmajorCooperation with Alpi Aviation, one of the major manufacturers listed for 2025 collaboration.
- AerospoolmajorCooperation with Aerospool, one of the major manufacturers listed for 2025 collaboration.
- Vittorazi MotorimajorHelix propellers (H30F series) are 'Vittorazi Approved' for the Moster 185 engine, ensuring customer warranty validity. Tens of thousands of pilots use this combination.
- SolarStratosflagshipHelix is partner and sponsor of the SolarStratos project. The H40A LTM in-flight adjustable propeller powered the HB-SXA solar aircraft to a 9,521m altitude record on August 12, 2025. Helix is dedicated to further developing propeller systems for future SolarStratos flights.
- Elektra SolarcoreBuilt the HB-SXA solar-powered aircraft for SolarStratos that was equipped with Helix propellers for the record-breaking flight.
- Volocopter (formerly E-Volo)majorParticipated in a multicopter cooperation project with E-Volo (later: Volocopter) starting in 2012, contributing to the development of eVTOL propulsion systems.
- YuneecmajorCollaboration with Yuneec in 2009 for the first electric airplane E-Spyder and EA430, establishing early expertise in electric aircraft propulsion.
- Fresh Breeze ParamotorcoreExclusive supply contract for paramotor propellers secured in 2006. Helix developed the Scimitar Propeller (bending against turning direction) specifically for Fresh Breeze in 2007.
- Adventure ParamotormajorInternational supply contract for paramotor propellers established in 1999, expanding Helix's global distribution in the paramotor market.
- Comco IkarusmajorCooperation with Comco Ikarus established in 2023 for aircraft propeller development.
- SportairUSAmajorPartnership for OSHKOSH 2026 EAA AirVenture event, where Helix and SportairUSA will showcase their collective products at the world's greatest celebration of aviation.
- Helix Composites (Thailand)coreProduction line established in Thailand in 2007 for expanded manufacturing capacity.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Helix-Carbon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DUC Propellers: French designer and manufacturer of carbon and wood composite propellers for ultralight, LSA, and paramotor aircraft. DUC competes directly with Helix in the European UL/LSA segment and offers comparable fixed-pitch and ground-adjustable product lines.
- Airmaster Propellers: New Zealand-based propeller manufacturer producing composite and ground-adjustable propellers for ultralight, microlight, and light sport aircraft. Airmaster directly overlaps with Helix's UL/LSA product portfolio and competes in similar export markets.
- Sensenich Propeller: US-based manufacturer of composite and wood propellers for general aviation, ultralight, and paramotor markets. Sensenich overlaps with Helix in propeller materials (composite/wood), power range, and customer segments, and is a comparable reference point on transatlantic competition.
- Ivoprop: German manufacturer of carbon composite propellers for ultralight and light sport aircraft. Ivoprop competes with Helix in the European UL/LSA segment with overlapping materials, customer base, and product configurations.
- MT-Propeller: German manufacturer of composite and wood propellers for general aviation, ultralight, and light sport aircraft. MT-Propeller is the closest direct peer to Helix, sharing a German Mittelstand heritage, similar product portfolio across fixed-pitch and in-flight adjustable propellers, and a comparable target customer base in European LSA/ultralight OEMs.
- PowerFin (Woodcomp): Czech manufacturer of composite propellers for paramotors, ultralight aircraft, and light sport aircraft. PowerFin's product portfolio, materials, and customer base (powered paragliding and UL pilots) directly overlap with Helix's paramotor and UL product lines.
Broad incumbents
- McCauley Propeller (Textron Aviation): US propeller manufacturer owned by Textron Aviation, producing propellers for general aviation, commercial, and military platforms. McCauley is a broader incumbent with deeper resources but is less specialized in the UL/LSA/paramotor niche where Helix competes.
- Hartzell Propeller: One of the largest US general aviation propeller manufacturers, offering composite and aluminum propellers across certified, experimental, and light sport segments. Hartzell is a broader incumbent than Helix — overlapping in LSA/ultralight but extending into certified commercial and corporate aviation.
Emerging players
- Pipistrel (Textron eAviation): Slovenian LSA and eVTOL aircraft manufacturer (now part of Textron eAviation) that is both a Helix customer (Velis Electro, exclusive LSA cooperation) and a potential competitor as Pipistrel develops its own propulsion systems. Comparable for understanding the LSA/eVTOL OEM side of Helix's value chain.
- Volocopter: German eVTOL/air-taxi OEM that partnered with Helix from 2012 for multicopter propulsion development. Volocopter is a relevant emerging peer because it represents the customer side of Helix's eVTOL strategy and has invested in proprietary rotor development, illustrating both the opportunity and the vertical-integration risk.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Helix-Carbon social profiles
Digital presenceHelix-Carbon compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Helix-Carbon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Helix-Carbon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Helix-Carbon subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Helix-Carbon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Helix-Carbon M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Helix-Carbon
What does Helix-Carbon do?
Helix-Carbon GmbH designs and manufactures handcrafted carbon fiber composite propellers for aviation applications including paramotors, ultralight aircraft, light sport aircraft, eVTOL/multicopters, and military UAVs. The company also provides custom R&D engineering services for industrial clients (large fans, cooling propellers, high-load-bearing carbon components) and ICAO-compliant noise measurement services for propeller certification.
Is Helix-Carbon a public or private company?
Helix-Carbon is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Helix-Carbon founded?
Helix-Carbon was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Helix-Carbon based?
Helix-Carbon is headquartered in Würselen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Helix-Carbon make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Carbon Fiber Propeller Sales are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce Merchandise, custom R&D and Engineering Services and noise Measurement Services.
Who are Helix-Carbon's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DUC Propellers, Airmaster Propellers, Sensenich Propeller, Ivoprop, MT-Propeller and PowerFin (Woodcomp). Broad incumbents are McCauley Propeller (Textron Aviation) and Hartzell Propeller. Emerging players are Pipistrel (Textron eAviation) and Volocopter.
Does Helix-Carbon have an API?
No public API is recorded for Helix-Carbon.
What industry is Helix-Carbon in?
Helix-Carbon's product category is Aerospace Propellers. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABADAI, Propellers, Rotors & Open-Rotor Propulsors, with a secondary code of IMABABAD, Rotorcraft Airframes, Structures & Composites. Its NAICS code is 336413 and its SIC code is 3720.