Aviation Week Heli-Expo Show News Briefing - February 24-26, 2008 - (Page 26) Sikorsky Unveils X2 ‘Shape of the Future’ supersonic, maximizing lift and minimizing drag. Unlike a traditional helicopter, the rotor blades are relieved of having to provide forward propulsion by a large pusher propeller at the Sikorsky X-2 technologies could make 250-kt flight routine. rear of the fuselage. So far the aerospace industry’s solution to Sikorsky aims to shape the future with the unveiling here of its almost-flight-ready, high speed, vertical flight has been the hugely complex tiltrotor, a hybrid airplane with X2 high-speed helicopter. First flight will be “as soon as we are ready rotors. The X2, says Estill, differs markedly in to fly. We are chomping at the bit to get air- that it is still a helicopter “that can go fast, can borne,” X2 program manager Peter Grant autorotate, hover, and fly nap of the earth.” Most tiltrotor missions to date appear to be of told Show News. The X2 is intended to prove technologies short duration rather than long range, the scethat will allow helicopters to cruise 100 kts nario where the X2 technology is most faster at around 250 kts. “Helicopters have competitive, he notes. The X2 is especially well suited to missions been stuck (by rotor aerodynamics) at around 160 kts and this really breaks out of the mold,” such as flying fast to oil rigs, explained Steve Estill, vp of worldwide sales. which would call for its tech“This is a real game-changer—it will go faster nologies to be developed into a light to intermediate and further at the same time.” Key to the X2 is a coaxial rotor system that twin of the same size as the is optimized for all regimes of flight by a fly- 12-passenger S-76 or 19by-wire control system. This slows the blades passenger S-92. “We will listen to the at high speeds to prevent their tips going industry here at Heli-Expo and start formulating what the first commercial product will be,” Estill said. The X2 is scaleable, with some studies showing that a heavy lift version is possible that can carry up to 20 tons internally or 40 tons externally and still cruise at up to 250 kts. The timetable? It will probably take ten to 12 years,” he said. —John Morris Counter-rotation keys Sikorsky concepts. Eurocopter Says Deliveries Another Record in ’08 Eurocopter expects to boost helisaw an unusually strong military copter output once more this market, including orders for year even as deliveries in 2007 95 NH90s. reached a high of 488 rotorcraft, Bertling doesn't expect major driving revenue to almost 4.2 bilrepercussions from a potential lion euros. U.S. recession, with the VIP Orders also set a new record and tourism markets most of 802 helicopters, boosting the vulnerable. Era’s EC225 is first of the type of the U.S. oil patch. company’s backlog to 13.5 billion In line with its parent company euros. And, Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling EADS's new Vision 2020, Eurocopter also Eurocopter’s 2007 Orders says, that doesn't even include some deals has set some long-term targets. They 73 EC120 Colibri announced last year, such as France's purinclude doubling the business by the end of 325 AS350/355 Ecureuil/Fennec/EC130 chase of additional NH90 transports. the next decade, or achieving 7% annual 134 EC135 For 2008, Bertling expects output to average growth. 88 BK117/EC145 family 47 Dauphin/Panther/EC155 family reach around 600 helicopters. Order intake, One important business area to reach 22 Super Puma/CougarEC225/EC725 however, will likely drop off from last year's that marker will be revenue from services— 95 NH90 level to around 600 units. One reason 2008 watch for acquisitions to help Eurocopter 18 Tiger activity will likely slow is because last year achieve its services goal. 26 www.aviationweek.com/shownews February 24, 2008 http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews
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