Demonstrator Conducts First 'Blades-On' Ground Tests

Sikorsky Aircraft announced a major milestone for its X2 Technology Demonstrator program this week at EBACE 2008 -- successful ground tests of the aircraft with rotor blades installed and spinning for the first time.

The initial "blades-on" ground test was conducted May 13, and "went according to plan" according to company officials. The ground tests are continuing at Sikorsky's Schweizer Aircraft Corp. rapid-prototyping facility in Horseheads, NY in preparation for the X2 Technology Demonstrator's first flight.

"The entire X2 Technology Demonstrator Program Team is extremely pleased that we continue to move our experimental program closer and closer to first flight," said James Kagdis, Program Manager, Advanced Programs. "We anticipate that reaching this particular milestone, as with those yet to come, will continue to pique the interest of our military, commercial and international customers regarding the potential that X2 Technology could have on their diverse missions around the globe."

As ANN has reported, the X2 Technology Demonstrator combines an integrated suite of technologies intended to advance the state-of-the-art, counter-rotating coaxial rotor helicopter. It is designed to demonstrate a helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250 knots, while retaining such desirable helicopter attributes as excellent low speed handling, efficient hovering and autorotation safety, and a seamless and simple transition to high speed.

Among the high-tech features of the X2 Technology Demonstrator are fly-by-wire flight controls, and counter-rotating rigid rotor blades (shown below).

Sikorsky Aircraft first announced the initiative to develop an integrated suite of technologies called X2 Technology in June 2005. The project is funded solely by Sikorsky.

FMI: www.sikorskyaircraft.com