Sikorsky X2
Encyclopedia
The Sikorsky X2 is an experimental compound helicopter with coaxial rotors developed by the American aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft
. It is considered to be the fastest helicopter ever produced.
Advancing Blade Concept Demonstrator showed high speed was possible with a coaxial helicopter and auxiliary propulsion; the Cypher UAV
expanded company knowledge of the unique aspects of flight control laws in a fly by wire
aircraft with coaxial rotors; and the RAH-66 Comanche
, which developed expertise in composite rotors and advanced transmission design.
On 4 May 2009, Sikorsky unveiled a mock-up of a Light Tactical Helicopter derivative of the X2.
. The flight lasted 30 minutes. This began a 4-phase flight test program, to culminate with reaching a planned 250-knot top speed. The X2 completed flights with its pusher propeller
fully engaged in July 2009. Sikorsky completed phase 3 of the testing with the X2 hitting 181 knots in test flight in late May 2010.
On 26 July 2010, Sikorsky announced that the X2 exceeded 225 kn (274 mph; 441 km/h) during flight testing in West Palm Beach Florida, unofficially surpassing the current FAI rotorcraft
world speed record of 216 knots (263 mph) set by a modified Westland Lynx
in 1986. The X2 flight was purposefully made 37 years to the date of the S-69's first flight.
On 15 September 2010, test pilot Kevin Bredenbeck achieved Sikorsky's design goal for the X2 when he flew it at a speed of 250 kn (304.4 mph; 490 km/h) in level flight, an unofficial speed record for a helicopter. The demonstrator also reached a speed of 260 kn (316.6 mph; 509.6 km/h) in a shallow 2˚ to 3˚ dive.
On 14 July 2011, the X2 completed its final flight and was officially retired after accumulating 22 hours over 23 test flights. With the end of development, the X2 will be followed by its first application, the S-97 Raider high-speed scout and attack helicopter.
Sikorsky Aircraft
The Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Stratford, Connecticut. Its parent company is United Technologies Corporation.-History:...
. It is considered to be the fastest helicopter ever produced.
Design and development
Sikorsky has incorporated decades of company research and development into X2 Technology helicopters. The S-69/XH-59ASikorsky S-69
-See also:-External links:* * * *...
Advancing Blade Concept Demonstrator showed high speed was possible with a coaxial helicopter and auxiliary propulsion; the Cypher UAV
Sikorsky Cypher
|-References:This article contains material that originally came from the web article by Greg Goebel, which exists in the Public Domain.-External links:*...
expanded company knowledge of the unique aspects of flight control laws in a fly by wire
Fly by Wire
Fly by Wire: The Geese, the Glide, the Miracle on the Hudson is a book written in 2009 by William Langewiesche about US Airways Flight 1549 with emphasis on the role played by the advanced fly-by-wire flight control system of the aircraft....
aircraft with coaxial rotors; and the RAH-66 Comanche
RAH-66 Comanche
The Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was an advanced five-blade armed reconnaissance and attack helicopter designed for the United States Army. The RAH-66 program was canceled in 2004, before mass production began, after nearly $7 billion was spent on the program.During the early 1980s, the U.S...
, which developed expertise in composite rotors and advanced transmission design.
On 4 May 2009, Sikorsky unveiled a mock-up of a Light Tactical Helicopter derivative of the X2.
Operational history
The X2 first flew on 27 August 2008 from Schweizer Aircraft's (a division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation) facility at Horseheads, New YorkHorseheads (village), New York
Horseheads is a village in Chemung County, New York, USA. The population was 6,461 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from the number of bleached skulls of pack horses left behind by the Sullivan Expedition....
. The flight lasted 30 minutes. This began a 4-phase flight test program, to culminate with reaching a planned 250-knot top speed. The X2 completed flights with its pusher propeller
Pusher configuration
In a craft with a pusher configuration the propeller are mounted behind their respective engine. According to Bill Gunston, a "pusher propeller" is one mounted behind engine so that drive shaft is in compression...
fully engaged in July 2009. Sikorsky completed phase 3 of the testing with the X2 hitting 181 knots in test flight in late May 2010.
On 26 July 2010, Sikorsky announced that the X2 exceeded 225 kn (274 mph; 441 km/h) during flight testing in West Palm Beach Florida, unofficially surpassing the current FAI rotorcraft
Rotorcraft
A rotorcraft or rotary wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air flying machine that uses lift generated by wings, called rotor blades, that revolve around a mast. Several rotor blades mounted to a single mast are referred to as a rotor. The International Civil Aviation Organization defines a rotorcraft...
world speed record of 216 knots (263 mph) set by a modified Westland Lynx
Westland Lynx
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
in 1986. The X2 flight was purposefully made 37 years to the date of the S-69's first flight.
On 15 September 2010, test pilot Kevin Bredenbeck achieved Sikorsky's design goal for the X2 when he flew it at a speed of 250 kn (304.4 mph; 490 km/h) in level flight, an unofficial speed record for a helicopter. The demonstrator also reached a speed of 260 kn (316.6 mph; 509.6 km/h) in a shallow 2˚ to 3˚ dive.
On 14 July 2011, the X2 completed its final flight and was officially retired after accumulating 22 hours over 23 test flights. With the end of development, the X2 will be followed by its first application, the S-97 Raider high-speed scout and attack helicopter.
Specifications
See also
External links
- Sikorsky X2
- Sikorsky X2 (proposed) on unicopter.com
- Flug-Revue X2 page
- "X2 marks the spot for radical rotor designs", FlightGlobal, 12 June 2007
- "Sikorsky Calls X2 Shape of the Future", Aviation Week, 25 February 2008
- "Sikorsky X2 In Blades-On Ground Tests", Aviation Week, 21 May 2008
- "Hyper Helos: Prototypes coming off the drawing board and into the race", Flight International, 3 July 2008
- "First Flight Of Sikorsky X2 Demonstrator", Aviation Week, 27 August 2008