2013 APRIL / Vol. 5 / No. 4 /
GA
37
A
s the rotary wing industry
emerges from four years of
austerity, some wondered
where helicopter technology
was headed when Scott's-Bell an-
nounced they would be re-introducing
the classic Model 47 to the market. It
was a sad moment for some as many
believe Sikorsky were dropping the
they have received an order for 23
S92s and seven S-76s from Milestone
Aviation Group, a speciality leasing
company that will accept the aircraft
between the second quarter of 2013 and
2017. Sikorsky say the order is backed
by further options on 14 S-92s and
10 S-76s. Milestone is led by Netjet's
founder, Richard Santulli, who declined
to name his customers although it is
believed they will be located with
offshore oil and gas industry users.
Sikorsky confirmed their S92 fleet
has now surpassed a total of 500,000
'Hughes/Schweizer' 300 in 2013 and
intend ceasing production of one of the
few entry-level aircraft to provide an
alternative platform to Frank Rob-
inson's range of piston and turbine
machines.
Scott's Bell say there is a market
for their Model-47, a built-from-scratch
copy of the 47G-3B-2A design that
will sell for US$ 820,000.00. The new
machine however will not be powered
by a piston engine but will be equipped
with a Rolls Royce RR300, which will
bestow a 1,400lb internal payload.
This compares to a classic piston
Bell 47 with a payload of 914lbs.
Also an elderly design, the
Sikorsky 300 has enjoyed a production
run of over 3,400 helicopters, almost
600 of them manufactured by family
owned Schweizer since they acquired
the manufacturing rights from the
Hughes Tool company in 1983.
Schweizer was sold to Sikorsky in
2004 and the diminutive training
and working helicopter, now 50
years old was renamed the Sikorsky
S-300C. Although the company has
not made a public statement, industry
observers say it is almost certain
production will stop despite news
messages from Sikorsky last year
that the order book was almost full.
Sikorsky has enjoyed an improving
business environment supported by
their announcement at Heli Expo that
flying hours with over 70-per cent
of users operating the helicopters
in the offshore role. The Milestone
announcement comes on the heels of a
confirmed order from the UK's Bristow
Helicopters for 26 S-76D aircraft.
Further confirming the positive
economic sentiment at this year's HAI,
Eurocopter announced a good 2012
with an improvement of almost 15-per
cent in revenue on the back of sales of
larger machines. Eurocopter admitted
they had sold fewer aircraft last year
but had exploited what they describe
as an improvement in service and parts
business. The French manufacturer
also took time out to celebrate Bristow
Helicopter's commitment to become
launch customer for the EC175.
Eurocopter has labelled their
new EC175 as their 'next generation'
medium lift helicopter and the aircraft
is currently engaged on a demonstration
tour of the USA. First deliveries of the
15-seat aircraft are expected to take
place in 2015. The company says it
is targeted at the oil and gas industry
and will be able to offer a fast cruise
by John Talman
Heli Expo 2013
Agusta Westland recently unveiled its
"Project Zero" tilt rotor demonstrator.
The aircraft was both designed
and built in under six months,
once again showing the companies
advance rotorcraft technology
and was test flown a number of
times during 2011 and 2012.
The aircraft is completely
electric powered, designed to hover
like a helicopter and convert to
a fixed wing aircraft in forward
flight thanks to its two integrated
rotors which can be tilted more
than 90 degrees. It completed
its first unmanned flight during
June 2011 and since then a
number of hovering flights in a
secured area at AgustaWestland's
Cascina Costa facility in Italy.
AgustaWestland firmly believes
in the tilt rotor concept as being
the future of high speed rotorcraft
flight as it not only offers greater
speeds but also a greater range
and higher altitude than existing
helicopter technology or other
high speed rotorcraft concepts.
The demonstrator's rotors are
driven by advanced electric motors
powered by rechargeable batteries;
future hybrid solutions have also
been investigated using a diesel
engine to drive a generator. All of
the aircraft control systems, flight
control and landing gear actuators
are electrically powered, removing
the need for any hydraulic systems.
The wings provide most of
the lift during cruise as does
the fuselage and shroud. The
aircraft has been desgined with
detachable outer wings for
mission that need to be performed
primarily in helicopter mode.
Elevons provide pitch and roll
control in forward flight while
the V-tail provides longitudinal
stability. The aircraft has a low
noise and thermal signature in
flight, does not require oxygen
which allows it to fly at altitude
or heavily polluted conditions.
The aircrafts rotors, when on
the ground, can be tilted forward
and the aircraft pointed into wind
to allow the rotors to windmill and
recharge the aircraft's electrical
storage device. The electrical drive
system also has the advantage that
it does away with the complex and
heavy transmission system required
by conventional rotorcraft. ·
AgustaWestland's `Project Zero' electric tilt rotor demonstrator designed and
built in less than six months, has already flown several times.
The AW119Kx, an evolution of the A119Ke, is a spacious top of the range
single turbine helicopter developed to enhanced safety levels and
providing high productivity and performance.
A modern glass cockpit configured with Garmin's G1000HTM Integrated
Flight Deck system enhances situational awareness. The avionic suite
comprises a Synthetic Vision System with Highway In The Sky (HITS)
depiction, moving map and a Helicopter Terrain Avoidance Warning
System (HTAWS) with worldwide terrain and obstacle database.
The large unobstructed cabin permits rapid reconfiguration for a
variety of missions such as passenger transport, emergency medical
service, and law enforcement applications.
Versatility and high power margins of this helicopter deliver
outstanding performance in a wide range of operating conditions that
make it a very cost-effective helicopter.
AW119Kx VIP/Corporate customers can benefit from unparalleled
comfort levels among single turbine helicopters in `club' seating
configuration of the cabin, which is segregated from the cockpit area.
It has a generous baggage hold in the tail section that accom-
modates up to 150 kg of luggage. The emergency medical service variant
accommodates up to two stretchers and two medical attendants, in a
fully medicalised cabin. ·
AW119Kx acceptance ceremony, the first of 15 AW119Kxs accepted by its launch customer (EMS) Life Flight Network.