Guimbal, March 10, 2026 - ATLANTA, Georgia - At a joint press conference held during the Verticon 2026 expo, Helicopteres Guimbal officially announced the full-scale development of the GrandCabri G5.
This all-new, five-seat, turbine-powered, multi-bladed helicopter is set to redefine the entry-level market. The G5 will be exclusively powered by Safran’s new Arrius 2D.
Building on the global success of the two-seat Cabri G2, the GrandCabri G5 represents a major leap for the French manufacturer. Designed with a highly versatile cabin capable of accommodating one pilot and up to four passengers, the G5 can carry out a large range of missions and provide an intermediate helicopter between light piston trainers and heavier turbine models.
Bruno Guimbal, Founder & CEO of Helicopteres Guimbal, said “By listening closely to our customers worldwide, we identified a strong demand for a modern, versatile, and powerful multi-bladed helicopter that bridges the gap between the Cabri G2 and the H125. The GrandCabri G5 perfectly meets this demand. It retains the G2’s core DNA - high-maneuverability, multi-bladed rotor, composite blades, Fenestron®, and a crashworthy structure - while offering the performance of a state-of-the-art turbine at a significantly reduced operating cost. It benefits from the Cabri G2’s extensive flight experience of 700,000 hours on 400 helicopters delivered in 40 countries – an experience that confirms it as the safest piston helicopter ever made”.
The G5 will be powered by the Arrius 2D, a new 450 shp variant of the Safran Arrius 2 family. Its specific integration with the G5 and its dual-channel FADEC will reduce the pilot's workload. With more than 4,400 engines delivered and more than 14 million flight hours, the Arrius maturity and robustness have been largely demonstrated in operation.
Cédric Goubet, Safran Helicopter Engines CEO, said "We are particularly pleased to enter into this exclusive partnership with Helicopteres Guimbal to power the new GrandCabri G5, their first turbine-powered helicopter. With the Arrius engine, Guimbal has chosen a proven and reliable propulsion solution with a high level of maturity at entry into service"
In parallel with the G5 launch, Airbus Helicopters has acquired a minority stake in Helicopteres Guimbal, notably to support the VSR700 programme which is now entering serial production following the recent order from France.
Stefan Thomé, EVP of Programmes at Airbus Helicopters, said “We have capitalised on a decade of successful cooperation with Guimbal on the VSR700. We trust their ability to develop a safe and efficient helicopter. The GrandCabri G5 serves as an entry point, complementing Airbus Helicopters' unique range of civil and military helicopters.”
Development of the G5 is well underway, with entry into service planned before the end of the decade. The company confirmed that the detailed technical specifications are frozen, and the first "metal cutting" for the tooling and prototype has already begun.
This all-new, five-seat, turbine-powered, multi-bladed helicopter is set to redefine the entry-level market. The G5 will be exclusively powered by Safran’s new Arrius 2D.
Building on the global success of the two-seat Cabri G2, the GrandCabri G5 represents a major leap for the French manufacturer. Designed with a highly versatile cabin capable of accommodating one pilot and up to four passengers, the G5 can carry out a large range of missions and provide an intermediate helicopter between light piston trainers and heavier turbine models.
Bruno Guimbal, Founder & CEO of Helicopteres Guimbal, said “By listening closely to our customers worldwide, we identified a strong demand for a modern, versatile, and powerful multi-bladed helicopter that bridges the gap between the Cabri G2 and the H125. The GrandCabri G5 perfectly meets this demand. It retains the G2’s core DNA - high-maneuverability, multi-bladed rotor, composite blades, Fenestron®, and a crashworthy structure - while offering the performance of a state-of-the-art turbine at a significantly reduced operating cost. It benefits from the Cabri G2’s extensive flight experience of 700,000 hours on 400 helicopters delivered in 40 countries – an experience that confirms it as the safest piston helicopter ever made”.
The G5 will be powered by the Arrius 2D, a new 450 shp variant of the Safran Arrius 2 family. Its specific integration with the G5 and its dual-channel FADEC will reduce the pilot's workload. With more than 4,400 engines delivered and more than 14 million flight hours, the Arrius maturity and robustness have been largely demonstrated in operation.
Cédric Goubet, Safran Helicopter Engines CEO, said "We are particularly pleased to enter into this exclusive partnership with Helicopteres Guimbal to power the new GrandCabri G5, their first turbine-powered helicopter. With the Arrius engine, Guimbal has chosen a proven and reliable propulsion solution with a high level of maturity at entry into service"
In parallel with the G5 launch, Airbus Helicopters has acquired a minority stake in Helicopteres Guimbal, notably to support the VSR700 programme which is now entering serial production following the recent order from France.
Stefan Thomé, EVP of Programmes at Airbus Helicopters, said “We have capitalised on a decade of successful cooperation with Guimbal on the VSR700. We trust their ability to develop a safe and efficient helicopter. The GrandCabri G5 serves as an entry point, complementing Airbus Helicopters' unique range of civil and military helicopters.”
Development of the G5 is well underway, with entry into service planned before the end of the decade. The company confirmed that the detailed technical specifications are frozen, and the first "metal cutting" for the tooling and prototype has already begun.
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See also |
Guimbal GrandCabri G5
Safran Arrius 2D
New Arrius 2D Engine to Power GrandCabri G5 Helicopter
