Program Achieves "Ready To Load" Status

The CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter Program has achieved "Ready to Load" (RTL) condition with the successful light-off of its first Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) engine. The achievement signals that the program is ready to begin formal integration testing in early 2011. The APU provides power to a 45KVA generator, a 58-horsepower hydraulic pump and hydraulic starter, and also provides bleed air to an environmental control system and main engine start system. It is used for ground operations, main engine start, and conditions when main electrical power provided by the aircraft's main generators is lost. It is a critical element of the aircraft's design.

CH-53K Artist's Rendering

The APU achieved RTL condition after light-off at 100 percent speed sustained for 30 seconds. The engine is now being prepared for safety of flight testing and accomplishing the on-time delivery of hardware for the ground test vehicle.

The APU Light-Off test was conducted at the San Diego facility of Hamilton Sundstrand, the primary supplier for the secondary power system for the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter program. HS is providing the APU, environmental control system (ECS), and the main engine start system consisting of an air turbine starter and start control valve.

The entire APU development and qualification program will involve 13 engines - seven for Hamilton Sundstrand and six for Sikorsky. The APU is a critical part of the secondary power system on the CH-53K helicopter, providing a pressurized air source ("bleed air") for the Hamilton ECS and main engine start system, as well as shaft power for the Goodrich 45KVA generator and Eaton 58- horsepower hydraulic pump.

Sikorsky Aircraft received a $3 billion System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract on April 5, 2006 to develop a replacement for the U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E heavy lift helicopter. The new aircraft program is planned to include production of more than 200 aircraft. Currently, the CH-53K helicopter is in the SDD phase with all major subcontracts awarded and valued at over $1.1 billion. The CH-53K helicopter will maintain virtually the same footprint as its predecessor, the three-engine CH-53E SUPER STALLION, but Sikorsky says it will nearly triple the payload to 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under "hot high" ambient conditions. The company says the CH-53E helicopter is currently the largest, most powerful marinized helicopter in the world.

FMI: www.sikorsky.com