Rotor Torque

Bell X2 Demonstrator Retired

The unofficial world speed record holding Sikorsky X2 demonstrator has been retired after 23 flights, 22 flight hours, and achieving 253 knots in level flight.
The aircraft, designed by Sikorsky to test new technologies including a hybrid main rotor and tail pusher prop combination. The developments will now be applied to Sikorsky’s follow-on S-97 Raider program which will design, build and fly two prototype light tactical helicopters for the US military to evaluate the viability of a fast and manoeuvrable next-generation rotorcraft for a variety of combat missions.
“The X2 program also has helped to develop the next generation of Sikorsky engineers, including some who are now in key positions on the S-97 Raider™ program and the Firefly™ electric helicopter program. Today, the entire Sikorsky workforce stands proud of this accomplishment and what it means for the future of rotorcraft aviation,” said Sikorsky President Jeffrey Pino.
The X2 program was a totally company funded enterprise, and culminated in Sikorsky being awarded the 2010 Robert J Collier Trophy in May for the program’s achievements.

First Polish Built Black Hawks Delivered

The first three Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawks built by PZL Mielec in Poland have been delivered to an unnamed customer, thought to be Saudi Arabia.
The aircraft differ from their US built UH-60M cousins in being slightly lighter, having a different avionics fit, and the wide chord main rotor from the UH-60L model Black Hawk. The different specification means the Polish built aircraft are available to sale to foreign governments without US ITARS restrictions.
PZL Mielec is owned by Sikorsky, and the Polish facility hopes to build 10 new aircraft in 2012 and 22 in 2013 as it ramps up to capacity.

V-22 Myp Ii Proposal Submitted

Bell-Boeing has submitted its proposal for the second multiyear procurement batch (MYP II) of V-22 Osprey tiltrotors for the US military.
The proposal, comprising 115 MV-22s for the USMC and seven CV-22s for the USAF Special Operations Command (AFSOC) follows the first production batch for 143 MV-22s and 31 CV-22s which is due to end in 2012. The Bell-Boeing teaming says the five-year, fixed price MYP II proposal will save the US government “double-digit” percentage savings compared to single year contracts.
The 145 V-22s in service at time of writing have completed 16 operational ship borne and land based deployments and 115,000 flight hours since 2007, with the loss of just one aircraft – a CV-22 in Afghanistan in 2010. US Navy records show the aircraft has the lowest ‘Class A’ mishap rate of any rotary winged aircraft in USMC service in the past decade.

Horror Period For Thai Military Helos

The Thai military suffered a horror period in July when it lost three helicopters to crashes on the same mission over a period of three days.
The first crash of a Bell UH-1 Huey in Kaeng Krachan National Park near the Burmese border on July 16 resulted in the death of five soldiers and crew. A UH-60L Black Hawk that had been dispatched to retrieve the bodies of the Huey crew the following day also crashed resulting in nine fatalities, while a Bell 212 involved in retrieving those bodies also crashed two days later, with three fatalities.
Thai media reported authorities had said that, although low cloud and bad weather in the area was a contributing factor in the first two crashes, it is believed a tail rotor failure was to blame for the crash of the 212. Thailand’s fleet of 20 212s was subsequently grounded pending an investigation into the incident.

1000th Ec135 Delivered

Eurocopter delivered the 1000th EC135 to its owner on July 20, just 15 years after the first Ec135 rolled off the production line in 1996.
The machine, an EMS configured machine for German auto club ADAC, was handed over by Eurocopter CEO Dr Lutz Bertling at the company’s Donauwöerth facility near Munich.
“The EC135 has helped us to provide an air rescue service using aircraft that are cleaner, quieter and more cost-efficient,” said ADAC President Peter Meyer. “Therefore we are enthusiastic about its technical qualities. Its performance has enabled us to establish a national network of emergency medical service providers that is without parallel in Germany and serves as an example for similar services elsewhere.”
ADAC has a fleet of Eurocopter machines – including 32 EC 135s and also including BK117s and EC145s – in service, and has recorded 550,000 flight hours with its fleet.

Briefs

Sikorsky has shipped two MH-60S helicopters to the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), marking the first export delivery of the type. The two MH-60S ‘Sierras’ will join six S-70B Seahawks already in RTN service, and will be used for a variety of missions, including logistics support, troop transport and search and rescue operations.

Perth based Heliwest has completed the company’s first NVG Training course. The course of two EMS pilots and an ATPL helicopter pilot was conducted at Heliwest’s headquarters at Jandakot in a Bell 206L modified with NVG compatible displays.