The whole point about a debate like this is that it does help shine a light into the claims that all helicopter manufacturers make about their products and help debunk their sales pitch.
Nick Lappos, although speaking ina private capacity, does help to make policy at Sikorsky and so his comments will reflect those of Sikorsky, even if only by chance. I attended a Shepherd Conference some years ago where Nick was speaking officially for Sikorsky, he is an impressive and knowledgeable salesman. He has pointed out that the cabin of the basic EC 225 is subject to grandfather rights, although the proposed optional crashworthy seats and floor will reduce this grandfathering. If think that some of his other points on the EC have been disproved.
HC has pointed out some flaws with the S92 such as performance issues and that the engines are grandfathered, but Nick seemed to think that is OK as it makes them reliable! Also the rotorhead looks quite Blackhawk like to me, but I may be wrong.
Both helicopters have their good and bad points.
If we overlook some of the bad tempered comments, this has been an illuminating debate and not merely a pissing contest. I feel we are now better placed to point out the faults in both machines to our clients.
JimL and 212 Man have made some good points on offshore performance, perhaps we should continue the debate along those lines if Sikorsky and EC are prepared to put performance data into the public domain.