Overhauled S-61 Speeds From Vancouver To Florida

Computer Sciences Corporation announced this week it has set a world speed flight record over a recognized course, as sanctioned and verified by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA). The NAA is the US affiliate of the Federation of Aeronautique Internationale, the recognized world authority for the validation of world aviation records.

The record category for this flight is large turbine helicopters, Class E Rotorcraft, Subclass E-1g. The record-setting flight was performed in a Sikorsky S-61 twin turbine helicopter CSC owns and operates for a US Navy client, which uses the aircraft to perform airborne launches and target recoveries.

During the past five months, CSC aviation support services personnel conducted a major overhaul of the S-61. The aircraft was completely disassembled and entirely rewired. All of the avionics were updated or replaced, and new systems, as well as a new glass cockpit, were installed.

CSC pilots Don Strother and Tom Algeo set course from Vancouver, BC on April 16, with a final destination of West Palm Beach, FL. Weather conditions dictated their route, which brought them down the Pacific Coast and across the southern US before reaching Florida.

"Obviously, we wanted to cover the course as quickly as possible, but safety was first and foremost in our planning and flying," said Algeo. "This was a tremendous challenge -- performing a complete overhaul and setting a flight record -- but CSC is committed to outstanding service delivery, and we are thrilled with this accomplishment."

"This is a remarkable, significant achievement for CSC and its dedicated workforce of aviation support services employees," said Lawrence H. Hare, president of CSC's Applied Technology Division. "With nearly 50 years of aviation operation and maintenance support experience, CSC's extensive expertise in end-to-end aviation solutions played a vital role in preparing this aircraft for the record-setting journey and achieving the desired results."

CSC provides aviation solutions and capabilities, including logistics support, to government organizations with large fleets of aircraft that must be kept at mission-operational status.

FMI: www.csc.com, www.naa.aero