Sikorsky Global Helicopters Delivers S-300C Helicopter To UND Aerospace

Sikorsky Global Helicopters, recently delivered an S-300C helicopter to UND Aerospace at the University of North Dakota.

Photo Credit: Sikorsky
The university has operated Sikorsky helicopters in its training program since 1983. The new helicopter becomes the seventh Sikorsky helicopter in operation in UND’s fleet. UND has three more S-300C helicopters on order this year.“We operate the S-300C model in our training program because it is a good training platform,” said Don Dubuque, fleet manager and director of extension programs at UND Aerospace. “It is also a very dependable and safe aircraft.”

Ken Polovitz, assistant dean of student services at UND Aerospace, said the university’s helicopter program is growing. “We currently have more than 800 students enrolled in fixed wing and helicopter training at UND, and more and more of them are becoming interested in the helicopter industry as a career track,” Polovitz said.

Source: Sikorsky Helicopter

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Completes First Flight Of S-76D Helicopter

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation reports it has successfully completed the first flight of its S-76D helicopter, the latest version of the S-76 helicopter, maneuvering the prototype aircraft through taxi, hover, hover turns, and forward flight to 40 knots in a test flight that lasted approximately 30 minutes.

Sikorsky Chief Test Pilot Greg Barnes and Pilot Mike Hardy conducted the test flight at Sikorsky's Florida facility on Feb. 7. The milestone culminated more than three years of design, development and testing of the first prototype aircraft.

(S-76A Helicopter Pictured Here - Photo Credit: Sikorsky)
"The next generation of the S-76 helicopter begins today," said Jason Durno, Program Manager. "The S-76D helicopter brings Sikorsky's popular S-76 aircraft to the next level in performance. It is through the dedication of this program team that the 'D' will open the door to new applications for this aircraft model."

Among the S-76D helicopter’s features are all-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades; an advanced Thales avionics system and autopilot; dual speed rotor with active vibration control; powerful Pratt & Whitney 210S engines; a quiet mode for enhanced public acceptance; and an optional Rotor Ice Protection System (RIPS) for all-weather capability. The S-76D helicopter also will offer an increase in useful load and extended range performance versus the S-76C+TM and S-76C++T aircraft currently fielded.

(S-76C+ Helicopter Pictured Here - Photo Credit: Sikorsky)

The S-76D helicopter is scheduled to enter production with certification, and customer deliveries in 2010. Sikorsky already has approximately 100 delivery position agreements on the aircraft.

Source: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Helicopter Sales Keep Flying Through a Tough Economy

Star-Telegram.com reports that helicopter manufacturer Bell Helicopter is having better luck with the rough economy than other aircraft manufacturers.

According to the story, helicopter manufacturers are feeling the effects as the once-booming aircraft market slows down, but not with the amount of pain that fixed-wing aircraft manufacturers are.

The slowdown does come with an upside, helicopter manufacturers that were straining to match the demand for orders have time to catch up.

Source: Star-Telegram.com

The Worlds Smallest Helicopter GEN H-4 Honors The Memory of Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci drew an early concept of a helicopter in the 1500s. Centuries later, a pilot plans to honor the famous inventor and painter with a flight of a unique helicopter.

The 165 pound GEN H-4 helicopter is not much bigger than the person who flies it and holds the Guinness World Record for smallest helicopter. According to the Associated Press, the GEN H-4 features two rotors for stability and can fly up to 35 miles an hour.

Gennai Yanagisawa, developer of the GEN H-4, was to fly the helicopter in the city of Vinci, near Florence, Italy, on May 25th.

Here is You Tube video of the GEN H-4 in action.



Source: Associated Press, Wikimedia Commons, and YouTube

40 percent increase in helicopter sales expected

If engine-maker Honeywell is correct, you'll be hearing the sound of rotors more often as helicopter sales increase.

According to Aviation Week, Honeywell is forecasting a 40 percent increase in helicopter deliveries over the next five years. Honeywell predicts 6,000 new helicopters will be needed between now and 2016

There was jump in helicopter sales by 9 percent in 2006 alone.

The demand for new helicopters ranges from business travelers, medical services, and law enforcement, with customers ranging from the United States to Africa and Asia.

Demand and uses for helicopters on the rise

Aviation Week features a story on strong demand for helicopters and the services they perform.

Helicopters are needed for missions ranging from oil exploration to emergency medical services. The demand is so strong that manufacturers are working harder than ever to keep up.

The story also reports how newer helicopters use automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast(ADS-B) to fly in areas such as the Gulf of Mexico.

ADS-B networks track helicopters and relay their altitude, speed, and direction. This information is used to monitor and co-ordinate helicopter traffic over a wide area.

Deer saved from frozen lake by news chopper

WCSH in Portland, Oregon features the story and dramatic video of the rescue of a stranded deer by a TV news helicopter.

The helicopter, from KWTV in Oklahoma, spotted the deer trapped in the icy waters of a frozen lake. Realizing that the deer would die unless helped, news chopper pilot Mason Dunn used the rotor blast to push the animal to safety.