Sikorsky’s X2 Technology demonstrator conducted a successful ground test in November 2006. The X2 Demonstrator is scheduled to take flight in 2007. Jeffery Pino Sikorsky Aircraft President considers this new technology is one the major pillars for the company’s future growth.
He also noted that Sikorsky’s recent announcements regarding strategic business relationships in the Mid-east, Europe, and Asia underscore its objective of bolstering its leadership position in the global aerospace market. “Thanks to the support of our customers worldwide, we are on track to double our revenues for the 2003 – 2008 timeframe, and given the projected strength in the military, commercial, and service and support markets, we expect this growth to continue. The number of products we have in production has grown from just three in 2000 to 10 today, with another six active development programs in work. Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), had $3.2 billion in revenues in 2006.
Sikorsky’s X2 refers to an integrated suite of technologies that improve the performance of coaxial helicopters, resulting in a new generation of helicopters that will be able to fly at up to twice the speed of current helicopters, while retaining all the desirable flying qualities of a helicopter at low speed, without any in-flight configuration transition. This suite of technologies includes advanced blade technologies to significantly increase lift without increasing drag, fly by wire, active vibration control, advanced hub drag reduction, and an integrated propulsion system that intelligently controls the power shared by the aft propulsor and the main rotor. The main X shaped coaxial rotor will be slowed during high speed flight to keep the rotor tips below supersonic speeds.
X2 Technology can also be applied to conventional speed coaxial helicopters without auxiliary propulsion, enabling even greater lift and hover efficiency.
