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Sikorsky’s UH-60M Upgrade BLACK HAWK Helicopter Achieves First Flight

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

August 29, 2008

thomas

The UH-60M Upgrade aircraft conducted a flawless first flight today at Sikorsky’s West Palm Beach facility in Florida. Pilot Mike Skaggs maneuvered the aircraft through hover into forward and sideward flights up to 50 knots during the 67-minute test flight. (PRNewsFoto/Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Steven Kaeter)

WEST PALM BEACH, FL UNITED STATES
   
Sikorsky Logo. (PRNewsFoto/SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT)

STRATFORD, CT UNITED STATES

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ — Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
today successfully completed the first flight of its UH-60M Upgrade BLACK
HAWK helicopter. The UH-60M Upgrade is currently the only fly-by-wire
rotary wing aircraft in flight test development within the Department of
the Army. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:
UTX).

In a test flight that lasted approximately 60 minutes, Sikorsky Chief
Test Pilots Mike Skaggs and Steve Silder maneuvered the aircraft through a
variety of exercises including hover, forward flight, and a hover turn. The
test flight was conducted at Sikorsky’s West Palm Beach facility in
Florida.

Sikorsky President Jeffrey P. Pino said today’s milestone represents a
major step forward in the company’s continuing efforts to provide the U.S.
military with superior technology.

“The UH-60M Upgrade will reduce pilot workload, increase lift, offer
better protection and enhance survivability,” said Pino. “The next
generation of BLACK HAWK helicopters is ideally suited for its mission and
will provide a safer, more responsive, deployable, versatile and effective
weapon system for the Army.”

U.S. Army Col. L. Neil Thurgood, Utility Helicopter Project Manager for
the U.S. PEO Aviation office, said, “Today’s first flight of the UH-60M
Upgrade aircraft, with fly-by-wire technology represents the next step in
providing the U.S. military the best capability to execute its mission.
This aircraft contains dramatic technological advances, yet retains and
improves on the proven design of the world’s most capable and robust
utility helicopter.”

Col. Thurgood added, “The U.S. Army Utility Helicopters Project Office
and Sikorsky Aircraft remain committed to the right technologies, equipment
and support infrastructure to empower our most important customer, the
soldier. The UH-60M Upgrade demonstrates the balance Sikorsky and the U.S.
Army have applied to address both current and future needs. Today’s
achievement is the result of dedicated effort and hard work by the entire
Upgrade Program Team.”

The UH-60M BLACK HAWK has become an integral part of the U.S. Army’s
command and control system, providing brigade commanders with real time
digital situational awareness and command and control options. UH-60M
Upgrade crews will benefit from a new standard of protection resulting from
reduced pilot workload through the fly-by-wire system, and improved pilot
situational awareness and aircraft handling qualities for more precise
control in degraded visual environments.

Among the innovative technologies the UH-60M Upgrade BLACK HAWK
helicopter employs are:

— Fly-by-wire flight control system that incorporates “active stick”
technology and dual channel – triple redundant flight control computers

— Glass cockpit which incorporates the Common Avionics Architecture
System (CAAS)

— Fully authorized digital engine control (FADEC)

Fly-by-wire flight control systems electronically link the controls
inside the cockpit with the exterior actuators, the movement of which
enable the aircraft to maneuver where and how the pilot intends.
Eliminating the traditional mechanical linkage saves weight, reduces
maintenance costs, adds capability and improves performance.

Key suppliers for the UH-60M Upgrade helicopter are:

— General Electric T700-GE-701E engine equipped with the FADEC.

— Rockwell Collins provides the all glass cockpit with multi-function
displays integrated with primary flight, navigation, and tactical
information.

— BAE Systems provides the active control sticks that provide pilot
tactile cueing.

— Hamilton Sundstrand’s flight control computers host the FBW flight
control software. Hamilton’s subsidiary, Claverham, provides the ballistic
tolerant main and tail rotor servos.

— Eaton Aerospace provides the hydraulic pumps and heat exchangers.
Pall Aeropower provides the hydraulic transfer and reservoir module for the
fly-by- wire system.

In 2007, the Pentagon and U.S. Army approved the full rate production
of 1,227 UH-60M aircraft and long lead procurement for 11 Upgrade LRIP
aircraft. In June, the 4-101st Aviation Battalion became the First Unit
Equipped with the UH-60M baseline model of the aircraft. The first delivery
of approximately 900 UH-60M Upgrade aircraft is planned for the fourth
quarter of 2010.

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.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning
potential production. Actual results may differ materially from those
projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not
limited to changes in government procurement priorities and practices,
budget plans or availability of funding or in the number of aircraft to be
built; challenges in the design, development, production and support of
advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including
but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies
Corporation’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

SOURCE Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.

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