Sikorsky X2

Sikorsky helicopter company is developing a new helicopter design, using new technologies dubbed the X2 technologies. The aim of the program is to create new helicopter technologies to be able to make the helicopter fly faster without the overly complicated tilt rotor design.

Currently many passenger helicopters have a top speed of about 170 mph, and similar sized fixed wing aircraft can double that speed. The new design would add about 60% extra speed, to somewhere around 280mph. The increased speed would bring the advantages of a vertical takeoff/landing aircraft with more speed leading to shorter trip times.

The current design for the new helicopter prototype has two counter rotating main rotors and it appears that at the rear there is a pusher propeller to gain the addition speed that is desired in this design.

If you want some more info on this, check out the full story over at Aviation.com or Sikorsky.com



Godspeed