SASLess
I couldn't agree more about Sikorsky's potential with the 70, 76 and 92. But they don't seem that interested in the civil market and Bell is going the same way. The S76 has averaged single figure sales for years now. The S92 looks like its going in the right direction, but a number of operators will go for a Carson blade 61 for the next N years and see how the S92 fares first. Nick's S70 comparison is interesting but irrelevant as it is never likely to appear in the civil market (OK, apart from that one logging one)
Bell is the same - they seem to be paying lip service to the civil market. 206, 206L, 407, 412 have been crying out for upgrades, now they are dying out for lack of them. The 430 follows the poor sales of the 230 and 222, and the 427 is not exactly rushing out of the door.
Eurocopter will continue to have the civil turbine market to themselves until Robinson develop one....