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Sikorsky’s X2 TECHNOLOGY(TM) Demonstrator Achieves First Flight

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

August 27, 2008

thomas

A Sikorsky S-76A helicopter observes the first flight of the X2 TECHNOLOGY Demonstrator Aug. 27. (PRNewsFoto/Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation)

HORSEHEADS, NY UNITED STATES
   
Sikorsky Aircraft’s X2 TECHNOLOGY Demonstrator successfully completed a flawless first flight today, culminating a four-year, company-sponsored program designed to establish that a helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250 knots. (PRNewsFoto/Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation)

HORSEHEADS, NY UNITED STATES
   
Sikorsky Aircraft Chief Test Pilot Kevin Bredenbeck prepares to make the historic first flight of the X2 TECHNOLOGY Demonstrator. (PRNewsFoto/Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation)

HORSEHEADS, NY UNITED STATES
   
Sikorsky Logo. (PRNewsFoto/SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT)

STRATFORD, CT UNITED STATE

HORSEHEADS, N.Y., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Sikorsky Aircraft
Corporation today successfully completed the first flight of its X2
TECHNOLOGY(TM) Demonstrator, maneuvering the prototype aircraft through
hover, forward flight, and a hover turn, in a test flight that lasted
approximately 30 minutes. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies
Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

Sikorsky Chief Test Pilot Kevin Bredenbeck conducted the test flight at
Sikorsky’s Schweizer Aircraft Corp. rapid-prototyping facility in
Horseheads, N.Y. The milestone culminated more than four years of design,
development and testing of the Demonstrator aircraft’s suite of
technologies that are intended to advance the state-of-the-art,
counter-rotating coaxial rotor helicopter.

“Today’s achievement is the result of dedicated effort by the entire X2
TECHNOLOGY Demonstrator Program Team,” said James Kagdis, Program Manager,
Advanced Programs. “It is proof of the complete commitment by Sikorsky
Aircraft to this program and to the exploration of innovation in aviation.
We look forward to expanding the flight envelope for this Demonstrator and
will continue to conduct market analysis to determine the next steps for
this important program.”

The X2 TECHNOLOGY Demonstrator is designed to establish that a
helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250 knots, while retaining such
desirable helicopter attributes as excellent low speed handling, efficient
hovering, and safe autorotation, combined with a seamless and simple
transition to high speed.

Sikorsky President Jeffrey P. Pino said the successful first flight
attests to the company’s commitment to excellence and to industry-leading
innovation.

“X2 TECHNOLOGY has crossed a major threshold,” Pino said. “The team’s
achievement sets the stage for the next series of tests eventually leading
to maximum speed. It also sparks the imagination for what ultimately the
technology can mean to the future of the rotorcraft industry. We are far
from having a product, but closer than ever to realizing the potential.”

Among the innovative technologies the X2 TECHNOLOGY Demonstrator
employs are:

— Fly-by-wire flight controls
— Counter-rotating, all-composite rigid rotor blades
— Hub drag reduction
— Active vibration control
— Integrated auxiliary propulsion system

Sikorsky Aircraft first announced the initiative to develop an
integrated suite of technologies called X2 TECHNOLOGY in June 2005. The
project is funded solely by Sikorsky. The X2 TECHNOLOGY Demonstrator
Program Manager is Steve Chisarik, and Director of Engineering Sciences for
Sikorsky is Steve Weiner.

Key suppliers for the X2 TECHNOLOGY Demonstrator are:
— Eagle Aviation Technologies, Inc.: Main rotor blades, miscellaneous
composite hardware
— Goodrich Corporation: SmartProbe(TM) air data system and engineering
support
— Hamilton Sundstrand Corp.: Flight Control Computers, Active vibration
control, engineering support
— LHTEC (Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company, a partnership between
Rolls-Royce/Honeywell): Engines, engineering support
— Moog, Inc.: Active vibration actuation, Consignment MU/EU components,
engineering support

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

SOURCE Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

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