AirSkyBuster : Aircraft and Airplane

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Sikorsky X2 (wallpaper 4)
Sikorsky X2 Helicopter images wallpaper gallery 4. Sikorsky X2 airplane pictures and images collection 4.
Helicopter Aircraft. The X2 first flew on 27 August 2008 from Schweizer Aircraft's (a division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation) facility at Horseheads, New York. The flight lasted 30 minutes. This began a 4-phase flight test program, to culminate with reaching a planned 250-knot top speed. The X2 completed flights with its pusher propeller fully engaged in July 2009. Sikorsky completed phase 3 of the testing with the X2 hitting 181 knots in test flight in late May 2010. On 26 July 2010, Sikorsky announced that the X2 exceeded 225 knots (259 mph; 417 km/h) during flight testing in West Palm Beach Florida, unofficially surpassing the current FAI rotorcraft world speed record of 216 knots (249 mph) set by a modified Westland Lynx in 1986. The X2 flight was purposefully made 37 years to the date of the S-69's first flight. On 15 September 2010, test pilot Kevin Bredenbeck achieved Sikorsky's design goal for the X2 when he flew it at a speed of 250 knots (290 mph; 460 km/h) in level flight, an unofficial speed record for a helicopter. Sikorsky X2 (wallpaper 4). Sikorsky X2 Helicopter images wallpaper gallery 4. Sikorsky X2 airplane pictures and images collection 4. The demonstrator also reached a speed of 260 knots (300 mph; 480 km/h) in a shallow 2˚ to 3˚ dive. 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.” Sikorsky X2 (wallpaper 4). Sikorsky X2 Helicopter images wallpaper gallery 4. Sikorsky X2 airplane pictures and images collection 4.

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Sikorsky X2 (wallpaper 3)
Sikorsky X2 Helicopter images wallpaper gallery 3. Sikorsky X2 airplane pictures and images collection 3.
Helicopter Aircraft. Two hundred and fifty-nine miles per hour. That’s how fast the Sikorsky X2 flew during a recent test flight in Florida. The flight broke a record that had stood since 1986 when a Westland Lynx managed 249 mph. And Sikorsky isn’t done yet. The X2 is a technology demonstrator aimed at developing helicopters that easily cruise up to double the speed of traditional helicopters. Using a twin rotor design, a pusher prop and numerous aerodynamic improvements, Sikorsky says this type of design could lead to helicopters that are easily capable of even higher cruise speeds. After setting the helicopter speed record with the 259 mph flight, X2 program manager Jim Kagdis said the helicopter is performing better than expected so far. “Vibration levels and aircraft performance have continued to meet or exceed our expectations, Sikorsky X2 (wallpaper 3). Sikorsky X2 Helicopter images wallpaper gallery 3. Sikorsky X2 airplane pictures and images collection 3. so we are pleased to report that all systems are ‘go’ in our mission to achieve a 250-knot [288 mph] cruise speed later this year,” he said. Helicopters traditionally are limited by the complex aerodynamics created with the moving rotor blades losing lift when they are moving backwards relative to the direction of flight. A propeller at the rear of the helicopter allows the X2 pilot to fly at higher speeds while minimizing the problems associated with high speed flight and the main rotors. Sikorsky believes there is a marketplace for a fast moving helicopter in the military and civilian world. Both markets are interested in faster medical helicopters to reduce response times for transporting patients in and out of remote areas. The company hasn’t released details about plans for a production version of the X2, but has said the technology will find its way into a future model. Sikorsky X2 (wallpaper 3). Sikorsky X2 Helicopter images wallpaper gallery 3. Sikorsky X2 airplane pictures and images collection 3.

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Sikorsky X2 (wallpaper 2)
Sikorsky X2 Helicopter images wallpaper gallery 2. Sikorsky X2 airplane pictures and images collection 2.
Helicopter Aircraft. Sikorsky has incorporated decades of company research and development into X2 Technology helicopters. The S-69/XH-59A Advancing Blade Concept Demonstrator showed high speed was possible with a coaxial helicopter and auxiliary propulsion; the Cypher UAV expanded company knowledge of the unique aspects of flight control laws in a fly by wire aircraft with coaxial rotors; and the RAH-66 Comanche, which developed expertise in composite rotors and advanced transmission design. On 4 May 2009, Sikorsky unveiled a mock-up of a Light Tactical Helicopter derivative of the X2. Sikorsky Aircraft has been awarded aviation’s most prestigious prize for the development of its X2 helicopter, which achieved 250 knots (288 mph) in level flight. That makes it the fastest helicopter ever without external thrust. Sikorsky X2 (wallpaper 2). Sikorsky X2 Helicopter images wallpaper gallery 2. Sikorsky X2 airplane pictures and images collection 2. The Collier trophy is awarded each year for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in the United States. This year marks the 100th time the award has been given, and Sikorsky joins an illustrious list. Past winners include Orville Wright, Chuck Yeager, the crew of Apollo 11 and the SpaceShipOne team. The Sikorsky X2 is a technology demonstrator exploring the limits of helicopter flight. By using counter rotating main rotors, some of the drawbacks of high speed helicopter flight can be minimized. The problem of retreating blade stall also is minimized by slowing down the main rotor speed and using the pusher propeller at the back of the helicopter for thrust as speeds increase. Last year saw a push for fast helicopters as Eurocopter also flew its speedy technology demonstrator, the X3. The Sikorsky X2’s record-setting flight was an unofficial speed run. Only a few examples have flown faster when boosted with external jet thrust. Sikorsky’s X2 will be the starting point for a new light attack helicopter being developed for the Army’s Armed Aerial Scout program. Known as the X2 Raider, the new military helicopter will retain the same basic layout. In addition to being fast, the new helicopter is expected to be quieter and have the ability to carry a larger payload than existing helicopters of similar size. Sikorsky X2 (wallpaper 2). Sikorsky X2 Helicopter images wallpaper gallery 2. Sikorsky X2 airplane pictures and images collection 2.

image dimensions : 1092 x 682

Sikorsky X2 (wallpaper 1)
Sikorsky X2 Helicopter images wallpaper gallery 1. Sikorsky X2 airplane pictures and images collection 1.
Helicopter Aircraft. The Sikorsky X2 is an experimental compound helicopter with coaxial rotors under development by the American aircraft manufacture Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky’s futuristic X2 high-speed helicopter technology demonstrator made its first flight today in Horseheads, N.Y., in the hands of chief test pilot Kevin L. Bredenbeck. The single-engined fly-by-wire aircraft features coaxial rotors and a pusher propeller that Sikorsky believes will revolutionize the helicopter world with cruise speeds of up to 250 kts, some 100 kts faster than current production helicopters. “This isn’t an airplane we are training to hover. It’s a helicopter that will go very, very fast,” said Sikorsky CEO Jeff Pino. “I think it will get to 260 kts.” (The helicopter world speed record is held by a Westland Lynx at 216.45 kts). Today’s flight lasted 30 minutes, during which Bredenbeck demonstrated hover, forward flight, and a hover turn. Current helicopter speeds are limited by rotor aerodynamics. Sikorsky X2 (wallpaper 1). Sikorsky X2 Helicopter images wallpaper gallery 1. Sikorsky X2 airplane pictures and images collection 1. In contrast the X2’s coaxial rotor system is optimized for all regimes of flight by a fly-by-wire control system that will slow the rotors at high forward speeds to prevent their tips going supersonic, while maximizing lift and minimizing drag by adjusting the pitch of the rigid, carbon-fiber blades. The counter-rotating rotors provide equal lift on each side of the aircraft and, unlike a traditional helicopter, are relieved of having to provide all the forward propulsion by a large pusher propeller at the rear of the fuselage. The rigidity of the blades allows the rotors to be closely spaced only two feet apart, further reducing drag. Sikorsky believes the gap can be reduced even more in the future. The X2 technology demonstrator is powered by a 1,452 shp, FADEC-equipped T800 turboshaft engine that was previously installed in one of the Comanche helicopter prototypes. It drives both the rotor and the pusher propeller through two gearboxes. So far the aerospace industry’s solution to high speed, vertical flight has been the hugely complex tiltrotor, a hybrid airplane with rotors. The X2 differs markedly in that it is still a helicopter that can go fast, autorotate, hover, and fly nap of the earth. The X2 can match the speed of the Bell/Agusta BA609 tiltrotor with far less complexity, according to Steve Estill, Sikorsky’s vice president for worldwide sales. X2 technology is especially well suited to missions such as flying fast to oil rigs, which would call for development of a light to intermediate X2 twin of the same size as the 12-passenger S-76 or 19-passenger S-92. Sikorsky X2 (wallpaper 1). Sikorsky X2 Helicopter images wallpaper gallery 1. Sikorsky X2 airplane pictures and images collection 1.