'And the President Descends the Steps of the Superhawk' --The Sweetest
Words to Sikorsky's Ears
Numbers are changing into names at the show this week. Hard on
the heels of the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner naming comes the Superhawk,
a new epithet for the military version of the Sikorsky S/H-92
multirole helicopter, which was revealed on Monday.
"Like the mighty Black Hawk from which we derived the new
aircraft's name, the H-92 Superhawk will feature the kind of safety,
survivability and mission performance that customers around the
world associate with Sikorsky," said Jeff Pino, senior VP
Business Development, at the unveiling.
In deference to its role, the H-92 will feature ballistic tolerance
improvements, including self-sealing tanks and additional armor
protection. There will also be self-defense systems, such as IR
protection and chaff/flare dispensers against missile attack.
A MilSpec wiring bus is part of an overall upgraded military avionics
capability that can be optimized to customers' requirements.
More power for the military variant-a quarter as much again-will
come from an upgraded variant of General Electric CT7 turboshaft
(two per helicopter). Designated the Dash 8C, it is the subject
of a development contract signed by the two companies on Monday
and is to fly in 2006 and receive certification the following
year.
It is no secret that it will be a major boost to the H-92 if it
can beat off a challenge by the AgustaWestland EH101 and secure
a contract from the U.S. Marine Corps as the next generation Presidential
helicopter. The last (para)military U.S. helicopter was designated
Agusta AH-68, so maybe 'Sikorsky VH-69 Superhawk' could just have
the right ring about it.
