While corporate use currently plays no larger part in the S-92's future than the Boeing BBJ once did in Seattle, Thomason believes that corporations will take note once the Helibus has proven itself in regular airline service. Because the helicopter's features and a developing infrastructure allow scheduled services even in marginal weather, it will be seen as a practical form of corporate transportation, he hopes.

Inquiries have already been made about executive versions. "Casinos are looking at it, even in 12-seat configuration," Thomason says. "They're very eager to get their best customers to the tables, as quickly as possible, in the most trouble-free manner."

Sikorsky anticipates a total market for about 1,000 S-92s, with perhaps as many as 200 earmarked for civil use as offshore transports, corporate shuttles, and as feeder-airliners: "People will pay big money to miss the traffic and fly from Connecticut to JFK," Thomason says.

First delivery will be in April 2002. Seven S-92s will be built that year, followed by 20-24 in 2003, with 100 deliveries slated for the first five years.

The first S-92 is a ground test vehicle that has completed a 200-hour FAA endurance run to certify the entire drive system, including main, intermediate and tail gearboxes. Since its first flight in December of last year, the second S-92 has logged more than 100 hours probing the edges of its flight envelope, at all airspeeds up to just over 180 knots in a dive, although the normal Vne is 165 knots. Autorotations have been conducted at various airspeeds, as well as maneuvers up to 45 degrees angle of bank and 1.9g.
The second flight-test aircraft has just joined the program. It's been built to near-production standards, with GE CT7-8 turboshafts and APU installed. It's to be used primarlily for engine and automatic flight-control system (ACFS) work. Although next in line, S-92 No. 4 is not scheduled to fly until July 2000, being preceded earlier next year by No. 5.

The Helibus is produced by a Sikorsky-led international partnership. The participants are Embraer in Brazil, GAMESA in Spain, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan, Jingdezhen Helicopter Group/CATIC of the People's Republic of China, and Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation of Taiwan (AIDC).