SAD
This post back in 2022 on the S97 Raider Thread #475 remains the best summary. Again truly sad.
Let’s remember the Sikorsky of Lockheed isn’t the Sikorsky of X2 days. The whole concept has lost its way since the triad of Lockheed Boeing and it’s Sikorsky bench warmers have been pushed aside. It started with Raider when the X2 team was pushed aside by its own leadership at the time for the next team to show anyone to include the X2 team it’s easy. So Raider went down the so called experts route chasing Army supposed dreams and requirements instead of letting the original X2 team do the Y next version of the X2.
The X2 was fast, smooth at the time it flew its speed flight. But after that speed flight the X2 team lost control of the X2 destiny to the marketing and program future chasers and the so called next team of Raider.
X2 was to finish its speed test flights and maneuvering flights to close out the modeling of an X2. It went over 250 kts at cruise 71 % power and it had speed and power remaining, vibes were good and the matrix set up for the AVCs was ingenious and set the stage for the Y aircraft. The X2 team had about 9 flights remaining but as mentioned the team was basically shutdown by leadership now chasing their idea of the Raider.
The X2 team wanted to after those 9 close out flights put a new design set of rotor blades on the X2, install a real AFCS system, an active tail and active collective to truely close out the X2 design model. The Y version the X2 team envisioned was a two engine S76 sized aircraft with a gross weight ~ 13 to 14000 lbs. But good things end when good things happen due to so called self proclaimed experts and leaders that have self in mind instead of promoting and supporting the real experts to move forward to get it done and accomplished.
S97 out of the gate was the wrong aircraft, one engine and no power or payload and capability for true over 200 kt speed or margin. Power to weight to drag basic computations didn’t add up and the aircraft structurally was under designed so it couldn’t do the maneuvers planned for such a capable concept. Then SB1 Defiant came along to scale up a design which we all knew wasn’t a viable path for the concept. So in the end what was good and had potential to change the way the helicopter could fly ended back with Raider and with the triad of Lockheed, Boeing and then the Sikorsky tag alongs chasing stupid Army requirements instead of letting the original X2 team follow thru on the concept and a Y platform aircraft so when it was time we could of offered a viable awesome finished product sooner than later.
The goal of the X2 team was accomplish all KPPs with the X platform on the X2 Demonstrator and then move onto the Y version as mentioned. If they were allowed to progress just think in less than 10 years we would be here today with a viable maneuvering and speed demon weapons platform. But here they are still in the big program paper chase with the so many experts of Lockheed and Boeing and Sikorsky now developing a one engine (still waiting the 15 years now ITEP magic engine) Raider X or FARA FLARA or …… and still a true Y Plane of the X2 has never flown to close out and prove the true viable capabilities of the X2 design and platform.
Again the X2 design and the X2 demonstrator met all its KPPs and if the original team was allowed to continue moving forward on its path the full potential as outlined would be a real accomplishment for the industry. As great as the ACH 66 Comanche now the the X2 follows its fate. Shame we don’t let the small selected group do the development for it has proved over and over in history it can be done.
But here you are design by committee, self proclaimed experts, dream requirements half baked and now in competition in a chase. So
good luck with the chase and the big program burdens. Go slow and drag it out and keep changing requirements as the Army leadership changes and the corporate leadership changes. To bad you don’t let the dedicated smart people move forward.
And really sad UTC sold Sikorsky..