{"id":274,"date":"2008-09-11T11:24:07","date_gmt":"2008-09-11T08:24:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.greekhelicopters.gr\/sx\/?p=274"},"modified":"2009-05-01T10:12:29","modified_gmt":"2009-05-01T08:12:29","slug":"sikorsky%e2%80%99s-x2-technology%e2%84%a2-demonstrator-achieves-first-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greekhelicopters.gr\/helos\/sikorsky%e2%80%99s-x2-technology%e2%84%a2-demonstrator-achieves-first-flight\/","title":{"rendered":"Sikorsky\u2019s X2 TECHNOLOGY\u2122 Demonstrator Achieves First Flight"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"HORSEHEADS, N.Y., Aug. 27, 2008 \u2013 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation<\/a> successfully completed the first flight of its X2 TECHNOLOGY\u2122 Demonstrator, maneuvering the prototype aircraft through hover, forward flight, and a hover turn, in a test flight that lasted approximately 30 minutes. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).<\/p>\n

Sikorsky Chief Test Pilot Kevin Bredenbeck conducted the test flight at Sikorsky\u2019s Schweizer Aircraft Corp. rapid-prototyping facility in Horseheads, N.Y. The milestone culminated more than four years of design, development and testing of the Demonstrator aircraft\u2019s suite of technologies that are intended to advance the state-of-the-art, counter-rotating coaxial rotor helicopter.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cToday\u2019s achievement is the result of dedicated effort by the entire X2 TECHNOLOGY Demonstrator Program Team,\u201d said James Kagdis, Program Manager, Advanced Programs. \u201dIt is proof of the complete commitment by Sikorsky Aircraft to this program and to the exploration of innovation in aviation. We look forward to expanding the flight envelope for this Demonstrator and will continue to conduct market analysis to determine the next steps for this important program.\u201d<\/p>\n

The X2 TECHNOLOGY Demonstrator is designed to establish that a helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250 knots, while retaining such desirable helicopter attributes as excellent low speed handling, efficient hovering, and safe autorotation, combined with a seamless and simple transition to high speed.<\/p>\n

Sikorsky President Jeffrey P. Pino said the successful first flight attests to the company\u2019s commitment to excellence and to industry-leading innovation.<\/p>\n

\u201dX2 TECHNOLOGY has crossed a major threshold,\u201d Pino said. \u201cThe team\u2019s achievement sets the stage for the next series of tests eventually leading to maximum speed. It also sparks the imagination for what ultimately the technology can mean to the future of the rotorcraft industry. We are far from having a product, but closer than ever to realizing the potential.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the innovative technologies the X2 TECHNOLOGY Demonstrator employs are:<\/p>\n