Sikorsky SB-1 flies for first time

[The Sultan]

From above article:

Defiant was close to hitting the 230-knot goal in June when it reached a speed of 205 knots. The demonstrator hit 100 knots in January.

Again the PR department falls down, in what world is 205 kts close to 230? Time to rename the Defiant BS-1. Also, in one of the articles it’s claimed they fly on average once a week, so 16 flights since the June 205 knot flight if they are to be believed.

With the four months between press releases I have pondered what serious problems are crippling the program. When one of the pilots commented that the June-ish test card called for a 30 degree bank, but they did 45 degrees instead I suspected flight control issues (no competent flight test pilot would intentionally miss the targeted bank angle that much). Four months is about right for a flight control software mod so that accounts for one of the claimed sixteen flights. We know the S-97 top speed has been reduced to the 180 to 200 kt range by excessive drag and brutal vibration. It is a safe bet one or both of these are issues they are having to address as they are minimizing the FLRAA requirements to avoid outright cancellation.

Any one want to give odds on another press release this year?