|
Sikorsky Claims Civil Presence, Soon Will Have
Two Civil Helos
Sikorsky Aircraft is promoting the latest augmented version of
its S-76 helicopter, the S-76C+, and has brought a cabin section
of its larger S-92 to this week's December NBAA show.
The first S-92 in final production configuration, with glass cockpit
from Rockwell Collins, made its maiden flight in Stratford, Conn.
early in October.
"This is the ideal 19-passenger airliner for feeder service
and some direct point-to-point applications," says Sikorsky
Aircraft civil programs VP Tommy Thomason. The S-92 will be Sikorsky's
flagship, able to seat up to 19 passengers.
The United Technologies company expects FAA certification at the
end of 2002, with deliveries to start shortly thereafter.
The S-92 will be priced at $15.5 million, or $16 million and up
with high-end executive outfitting.
Sikorsky is talking operating costs under $900 per hour, thanks
in part to a Goodrich HUMS (health and usage monitoring system)
that's to be standard equipment. Twin CT7-8 turboshafts from General
Electric will propel the S-92 at upwards of 150 knots as far as
400 nautical miles.
Thomason pegs the overall market at more than 1,000 S-92s, with
about a third expected to go to civilian operators. Canada's Cougar
Helicopters is Sikorsky's lead S-92 customer. Nick Lappos is S-92
program director.
Sikorsky is honing plans to update its classic S-76, of which
some 500 have been built, and placed with customers in 44 countries.
S-76 enhancements draw on technologies developed for the S-92 and
for Sikorsky's military machines. Among the possibilities:
- Turbomeca Arriel 2S2s with about 6% more power than the current
2S1 engine, boosting performance and helping ensure engines remain
in service until the TBO limit;
- Integrated cockpit with flat panel LCDs and digital data bus
architecture;
- Quiet tail rotor design with swept-tip airfoil; and
- Active vibration/noise control and a low-noise main transmission
with gear designs from the RAH-64 Comanche.
Already in train is production of the S-76C+ fuselage by Aero
Vodochody of the Czech Republic. The first was delivered to Sikorsky
in Connecticut at the beginning of the year, and later delivered
to a customer following VIP completion.
By Rich Piellisch
|
