Sikorsky says its X2 technology demonstrator unofficially broke the world speed record for helicopters on July 26 when it reached 225kt (417km/h) during a one hour flight.
The speed beats the official record of 216kt recorded by a Westland Lynx in 1986, but will not be recognised as an official record until witnessed by an observer from the National Aeronautic Association.
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Sikorsky test pilot Kevin Bredenbeck says he feels the aircraft “still has a lot of power” and hopes to take the X2, which uses a compound coaxial rotor system with a pusher tail propeller, to 250kt later in the test program.