Hélicoptères Guimbal has announced full-scale development of the GrandCabri G5, an all-new five-seat turbine helicopter unveiled at Verticon 2026 in Atlanta and aimed squarely at the entry-level turbine market.
Derived from the widely used Cabri G2 trainer, the GrandCabri G5 marks a significant step for the French manufacturer. The aircraft will be powered exclusively by Safran’s new Arrius 2D engine and is planned to enter service before the end of the decade.
Designed to carry one pilot and up to four passengers, the G5 is pitched as a versatile platform capable of covering a wide range of missions while bridging the gap between light piston trainers and larger turbine helicopters.
Built On Cabri DNA
Founder and CEO Bruno Guimbal said the aircraft was developed in response to global customer demand for a modern, efficient multi-bladed helicopter in the intermediate category.
“The GrandCabri G5 retains the Cabri G2’s core DNA — high manoeuvrability, multi-bladed rotor system, composite blades, Fenestron and crashworthy structure — while delivering turbine performance at significantly reduced operating cost,” he said. Guimbal also pointed to the Cabri G2’s operational record, with more than 700,000 flight hours accumulated across roughly 400 aircraft in 40 countries.
Power comes from the Arrius 2D, a new 450 shp variant of Safran’s Arrius family. The engine will be paired with a dual-channel FADEC, intended to reduce pilot workload while offering the reliability associated with a mature engine line that has logged more than 14 million flight hours worldwide.
Safran Helicopter Engines CEO Cédric Goubet said the partnership reflected confidence in both companies’ experience in the light turbine sector, noting the Arrius family’s established track record in service.
Alongside the G5 announcement, Airbus Helicopters confirmed it has acquired a minority stake in Hélicoptères Guimbal. The investment will support ongoing cooperation between the companies, including work on the VSR700 uncrewed helicopter programme now entering serial production following a recent French order.
Airbus Helicopters EVP of Programmes Stefan Thomé said the companies’ decade-long collaboration provided confidence in Guimbal’s ability to deliver a safe and efficient aircraft, with the G5 positioned as a complementary entry point within Airbus’s broader civil and military range.
Guimbal says development is well advanced, with detailed specifications frozen and tooling already underway for the first prototype.