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Topic: Social Enterprise

Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

Summary: The X2 is a technology demonstrator, a system built by Sikorsky to show what's possible. Deployed production systems are years in the future.

David Gewirtz

By for ZDNet Government |

Imagine you could launch a military helicopter that could perform all the normal helicopter functions -- but also fly twice as fast as any other typical helicopter?

The implications are tremendous, especially when it comes to rescue operations in enemy territory, where it's all about getting in and getting out as fast as possible.

Although Sikorsky currently doesn't have a contrast for an ultra-fast rescue chopper, it did just recently demonstrate the X2, a true helicopter capable of flying at 220 knots (that's about 286 miles per hour).

The X2 is a technology demonstrator, a system built by Sikorsky to show what's possible. Deployed production systems are years in the future.

Still, if the company could cut rescue time (and all the other helicopter operations) in half while still maintaining hover efficiencies and low-speed handling capabilities, that'd be pretty impressive.

Here's a short interview from some time ago that gives more information about this very slick technology.

Topic: Social Enterprise

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41 comments
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  • You must have never watched Airwolf :)

    Stringfellow Hawke could have run circles around these guys :)
    Johnny Vegas
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

      @Johnny Vegas I'm married now, to an incredible woman ... who just happens to have a slight resemblance to Caitlin O?Shannessy. Coincidence?
      David Gewirtz
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

    David

    You gave us some real information in this post instead of opinion. Keep it up.. I'm proud of you.
    vik_wvu
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

      @vik_wvu Facts do sometimes creep in. :) On the other hand, this is a "blog" so it's supposed to be full of opinion and what we in the media call "perspective".
      David Gewirtz
      Reply Vote

      • I must congratulate you as well for an interesting article

        @David Gewirtz In fact, at the 35 second mark in the embedded video, you can see that Sikorsky's X2 incorporates two Apple iPads in the instrument panel section. Talk about an advanced aircraft design!

        (Yeah .. I know .. but this is a "blog" comment! Grin.)
        kenosha77a
        Reply Vote

  • Heaven forbid that it might have CIVILIAN uses as well!

    So what's with the love affair with the military anyways? LOL!

    At any rate, wonder how Sikorsky managed to work out the problem of the heli blades going supersonic at those speeds?
    Reindeer911
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

      @Reindeer911 Dual rotors give more lift so they can slow rotor speed so the dont reach supersonic
      gswank54@...
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

        @gswank54@... I'm pretty sure that the contra-rotating rotors are intended to eliminate torque effects while eliminating the need for a tail rotor. The Russkies have used this design quite effectively in an attack helicopter they developed and Kaman Aerospace in CT perfected the contra-rotating principle on US Navy helicopters long, long ago.
        PrahaPartizan
        Reply Vote

  • Does this mean the end of all the carbon footprint claptrap on ZDNet?

    I hope so. This machine is awesome...
    alaskareport
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

    220 knots is 253 miles per hour - not 286. It's an interesting approach to an old problem, though.
    yars@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

    Actually 220 knots is about 253 mph, not 286 mph.
    Rule of thumb:
    as a pilot we figure mph as "kts with a 15% tip".

    Still pretty darn fast...
    garydavis
    Reply Vote

  • Old news - Lockheed AH-56 Cheyanne 60's flop did this back when

    Lockheed's AH-56 Cheyanne did this in the 1960s with a pusher tail prop, but it was way too ambitious when all the Army needed was Bell's cheap AH-1 Cobra adapted
    from the manificent Huey. They never got all the bugs out of the fancy "rigid rotor" system which on one test hacked the cockpit area until 1972, when America was out of Vietnam and moving on to the Apache which emphasized hover and toughness. Now American pilots want the speed to be able to cover the vast expanse of
    Afghanistan quickly. The Sikorsky design back then swiveled the tail rotor from side to back, but was judged to "risky". Bell was frozen out of the contract, but spent their own money to finish the Cobra and got the Army to buy a few "interim" examples until the Cheyanne was ready, assuming hell didn't freeze over first.
    zdarthurhu
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

      The more things change, the more they stay the same...this is a modern version of the Autogiro built by Mr. Pitcairn in eastern PA during the 1940's, the biggest difference here being the vertical rotor is in back not in front as with the Autogiro.
      ebphoto
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

    It's still appreciably slower than the Osprey, which is in operation now. OTOH, the Osprey's a pretty large vehicle (and expensive.) This potentially could be a smaller (cheaper) target for quick get-in, get-outs under fire.
    Doug_Dame@...
    Reply Vote

  • A pilot friend told me

    "Any time you are riding in an aircraft that the wings are moving at a different speed than the fuselage, you are out of your mind. You are also probably in a Helicopter."

    I bow to his informed opinion.
    oldbaritone
    Reply Vote

    • Helicopters

      @oldbaritone
      Helicopters don't actually fly; they're so ugly the earth repels them.
      Murfski-19971052791951115876031193613182
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

        @murphym@...

        I thought it was that they vibrate so bad that the earth rejects them.
        Rebelflag39
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

        @murphym@... Nah - they beat the air into submission.
        fairportfan
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Sikorsky flight tests a fast (very, very, VERY fast) new helicopter

      @oldbaritone
      Very astute observation !!
      TecKnight
      Reply Vote

  • Helicopters don't "fly"

    They beat the air into submission...
    cuba_pete@...
    Reply Vote
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