News Desk: Aircraft that take off and land vertically are perfect for military and urban use, allowing soldiers and rescue workers alike to manoeuvre into tight spaces without the need for a mile of runway. There have been numerous attempts to design next-generation VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, but the helicopter remains the best option, even though its design has stayed largely unchanged over recent years. The AVX aviation company wants to bring the chopper into the 21st century for both its commercial and military customers, and has put together a set of design proposals that would improve performance and cut costs at the same time.