NextGen Coaxial Helo Shelved During Strike

After being grounded in 2006 during a 10-week machinists strike, Sikorsky says it plans to resume development of its X2 next-generation helicopter sometime this year.

As Aero-News reported, Sikorsky announced its intent to develop the X2 -- which sports a coaxial design (two rotors on the same axis) and a 'pusher prop' to supply auxiliary propulsion that will enable the aircraft to reach high speeds of 250 knots -- in June 2005.

Work initially progressed rather swiftly -- Sikorsky flew a Schweizer 333 sporting a version of the X2's planned fly-by-wire control system that November, with first flight of a full-blown, 333-based concept aircraft slated for the end of 2006 -- but further work was halted when thousands of workers went on strike at the company's plants in Connecticut and Florida last February.

With that strike now resolved, Sikorsky President Jeff Pino told Dow Jones Newswires the company plans to bring the program back online... although he's not ready to commit to an exact date.

"We're probably, I would say, months away from turning it back on full force," Pino said last week, adding first flight of the concept wouldn't occur until at least a couple of months after program ramp-up.

"It's being kept warm. It's got a low level of activity that makes sense right now," Pino said.

Teal Group aircraft analyst Richard Aboulafia says Sikorsky is giving the X2 project the correct level of attention, given the current helicopter market.

"New helicopter technology is waiting on a market that's not going to happen for decades," Aboulafia said, adding Sikorsky's efforts are currently focused on meeting demand for Black Hawk helicopters from the US military.

"You've got this tremendous recapitalization need after Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. "That crowds out new technology."

Sikorsky has also faced Pentagon allegations of quality-control issues... but Pino says the company has since resolved those issues.

FMI: www.sikorsky.com