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Sikorsky Aircraft Preps for Multiple First Flights as ‘Four Pillars’ Continue to Pace Rapid Growth

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

July 14, 2008

thomas

FARNBOROUGH, England, July 14 /PRNewswire/ — FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL
AIR SHOW — With busy production lines and a schedule of first flights for
seven programs in 2008, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. continues to chart a path
for future growth after doubling revenues over the last four years,
Sikorsky President Jeffrey P. Pino said today at the Farnborough
International Air Show. Sikorsky, based in Stratford, Conn., USA, is a
business unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/SIKORSKYLOGO)

Sikorsky Aircraft established “four pillars of growth” as a guide for
company progress. Pino first announced the guidelines two years ago at the
Farnborough show. They are: growth with margin expansion, excellence in
execution, technological leadership, and globalization.

“To say that I am excited at the prospects of growth and
industry-changing innovation is an understatement. Sikorsky in 2008 is
poised to mark an unprecedented period of milestones and growth,” Pino
said.

Sikorsky’s revenue reached a record $4.8 billion in 2007 and its
backlog has grown to $12 billion from $6.9 billion in 2004.

Current U.S. government production programs include the MH-60S and
MH-60R helicopters for the U.S. Navy, and the UH-60 BLACK HAWK helicopter
for the U.S. Army.

The programs call for 271 and 298 of the Navy’s MH-60S and MH-60R
helicopters, respectively. Sikorsky is in full-rate production for the U.S.
Army’s newest BLACK HAWK, the UH-60M. This program is expected to produce
more than 1,200 aircraft. “Our H-60 product lines are in a strong growth
period as both the Army and Navy continue to replenish their fleets,” Pino
said.

In addition, Sikorsky is developing the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter
for the U.S. Marine Corps under a $3 billion System Development and
Demonstration contract. The SDD contract could lead to the production of
156 CH-53K aircraft to replace roughly an equal number of CH-53E SUPER
STALLION(TM) helicopters in the Marine Corps’ current inventory.

Development money and production quantities for all government programs
are determined year-by-year over the life of the program based on funding
allocations set by Congress and Pentagon acquisition priorities.

The S-92(R) helicopter and S-76(R) helicopter product lines continue to
lead the resurgence in Sikorsky’s commercial aircraft business. “The H-92
helicopter, a military version of our S-92 aircraft, is on static display
here in Farnborough, and we are preparing to bring it on a world tour
beginning in Europe. We at Sikorsky are very optimistic about our future,
as we see strong growth across all of our product lines, and the S-92
helicopter and its variants are a key component of that future growth,”
Pino said.

In May, the S-76 fleet passed 5 million flight hours, and Sikorsky
delivered the 700th aircraft in the series earlier this year.

In approximately four years since the start of production deliveries,
the S-92 helicopter fleet has accumulated 100,000 flight hours. Offshore
oil S-92 helicopter operators are flying between 130 and 170 hours per
month, a testament to the aircraft’s sturdiness and ease of maintenance.

Sikorsky’s global expansion has been another key component of the
company’s rapid growth these last few years. Among the highlights are:

— Modernization projects continue at the PZL Mielec facility in
Poland, and the first BLACK HAWK helicopter cabins are due to be delivered
from there later this year.

— In China, S-76 helicopters are now being built under a joint venture
of Shanghai Sikorsky and AVIC II.

— Sikorsky’s supply base in Turkey continues to grow, and plans to
develop regional aviation centers are progressing in the Middle East.

Even with surging production, Sikorsky continues to invest in product
development to sustain long-term growth. In addition to the CH-53K
helicopter for the Marine Corps, other current development programs
include:

— The International BLACK HAWK helicopter, to be produced at PZL
Mielec with deliveries expected to begin in 2011.

— The H-92 helicopter, the first military variant of the S-92
helicopter, is scheduled to fly in the fourth quarter. Twenty-eight of
these militarized S-92 helicopters are scheduled to be built for the
Canadian Air Force.

— The UH-60M Upgrade helicopter is scheduled to fly in the third
quarter. This latest version of the BLACK HAWK helicopter is a fly-by-wire
aircraft with a Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) cockpit being
developed under a $260 million development contract with the U.S. Army.
Ultimately, it is expected to lead to initial production of approximately
1,000 aircraft.

— The X2 TECHNOLOGY(TM) Demonstrator is on the verge of its first
flight as well. The prototype represents a new generation of rotorcraft
that combines an integrated suite of technologies intended to advance the
state-of-the-art, counter-rotating coaxial rotor helicopter. It is designed
to demonstrate a helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250 knots, while
retaining such desirable helicopter attributes as excellent low speed
handling, efficient hovering and autorotation safety, with seamless and
simple transition to high speed.

— The S-76D(TM) helicopter, the latest version of the S-76 helicopter,
which includes a new composite rotor blade, Pratt & Whitney 210S engines,
Quiet Design Tail Rotor, Active Vibration Control, Rotor Ice Protection
System, and Thales advanced avionics. First flight is expected by year-end,
and Sikorsky already has about 100 position agreements on the aircraft.

— The Sikorsky-Schweizer S-434(TM) helicopter, with a four-bladed
rotor system based on the existing S-333(TM) helicopter, is slated for its
first flight in the fourth quarter.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., USA, is a world
leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. The company’s mission
statement reflects its long commitment to safety and innovation: “We
pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere … every
time(TM).” United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., USA,
provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to
the aerospace and building systems industries.

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