Sikorsky's next-gen chopper techs

[Dr Mordrid]

Sikorsky's X2 tech demonstrator just flew 250kt/287.69mph

And they also have a testbed chopper that's electric: The Firefly (below)

X2 Link....

Sikorsky’s X2 demonstrator sets unofficial world record speed of 250 knots

Sikorsky Aircraft’s coaxial X2 Technology demonstrator has achieved the 250-knot (287.69 mph) milestone that was established as the goal of the craft from its inception. The speed, which was achieved in level flight during a 1.1-hour flight on Wednesday, September 15, is an unofficial speed record for a helicopter, easily beating the current official world record that stands at 216.46 knots (249.1 mph) set by the British built Westland Lynx ZB-500 in 1986.

Earlier this year, the X2 demonstrator achieved a speed of 181 knots in a test flight – faster than the 160-170 knot (184-195 mph) speeds generally possible with conventional helicopters – but achieving a speed of 250 knots was always the ultimate aim for the X2 Technology program since its beginnings in 2005. The 250-knot milestone was reached at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center where the demonstrator also reached 260 knots (299.2 mph) in a very shallow dive during the flight.

“The aerospace industry today has a new horizon,” said Sikorsky President Jeffrey P. Pino. “The X2 Technology demonstrator continues to prove its potential as a game-changer, and Sikorsky Aircraft is proud to be advancing this innovative technology and to continue our company’s pioneering legacy.”
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Firefly Link....

Officially announced at AirVenture 2010, Sikorsky's Project Firefly sets out to demonstrate the feasibility and showcase the benefits of electrically powered helicopters. The technology demonstrator is based on an S-300C light helicopter, with a 190-horsepower electric motor replacing the standard piston-engine and lithium ion battery packs added to either side of the cabin. The result is a significantly more efficient system that – although it's expected to fall short of typical helicopter performance when the first flight takes place later this year – is just the tip of the iceberg for the new era of manned electric rotorcraft.

Along with the electric motor and battery packs, the demonstrator includes a new digital motor controller and next generation cockpit display. The drive train, rotors and flight controls from the S-300C have been retained and very little has been changed on the airframe, as the electric motor has been designed to pick up the same hard points as the piston engine it replaces.

The 190 hp (142 kW) motor built by Californian firm U.S. Hybrid from California is derived from a unit developed for ground based vehicles but, as Sikorsky's Tim Lauder explained to Gizmag, it's been specifically tailored for use in rotorcraft. These changes include an additional 40 horsepower, constant operation at 3200 RPM and forced air cooling as opposed to water cooling.
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[Umfriend]

The X2 reminds me of the Do-335. Does the prop at the back serve as a "push" engine? How many HP do high-performance mass-production choppers have?

[KRSESQ]

Wiki link.

Yeah, push prop. No wonder it's fast.

Powerplant: 1× LHTEC T800-LHT-801 turboshaft, 1300-1800 shp (1000-1340 kW)
Propellers: 1 six-bladed pusher-type propeller
Rotor: 2 four-bladed co-axial

Kevin

[Elie]

Kind of reminds me of Airwolf

[VJ]

It looks quite different from Airwolf in my opinion...

It does surprise me nobody came up with the design earlier. After al, the topspeed for a normal helicopter is limited by the rotor: either it goes supersonic at one end (causing instability, so that is normally avoided), or it won't provide lift anymore at the other end (if the backward motion of the rotor is as fast as the forward motion of the helicopter, the net airspeed over this part of the rotor is 0).
The co-axial rotor solves this latter issue, and at higher speeds the rotors can be run more slowly avoiding the first issue... Most likely it is more complicated to achieve than it looks...

edit: they've been playing with this since 1973, and it is closer to the Kamov Ka-50.

Only thing is: it doesn't really look like a helicopter anymore... does it?

[Dr Mordrid]

If it gets its lift from rotating, powered blades what else would it be?

[KRSESQ]

I recall reading of a similar experimental helicopter that used its jet turbine exhaust the same way. Can't remember what it was called.

I wonder what this things' lifting capacity is? It looks like it could be quite useful.

Kevin

[Dr Mordrid]

You do realize that there are military micro-choppers in dev for recon & precision small charge delivery?

[KRSESQ]

I was thinking along the lines of this payload.

Kevin

[VJ]

I think you two are on different wavelengths here... There are many small choppers in development or even available (e.g. draganfly), but I think Krsesq is looking more for something affordable to just have fun with... Parrot has a small helicopter with built in cameras ( ar drone ), but it is controlled from an iPhone...