Sikorsky S-92 Wins 2002 Collier Trophy
Congrats to Nick and the team.
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Sikorsky S-92 Wins 2002 Collier Trophy
Feb. 24, 2003
Sikorsky Aircraft has been selected by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) to receive its prestigious 2002 Robert J. Collier Trophy, honoring the all-new S-92 helicopter as "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America."
Sikorsky was chosen for designing, manufacturing, testing and introducing into service the S-92 helicopter, an aircraft that combines exceptional safety and performance features to dramatically raise the standards for helicopter travel. The Collier Trophy is regarded worldwide as the most prestigious award in the aerospace industry.
"This award ratifies the truly breakthrough nature of the Sikorsky S-92," said Sikorsky President Dean Borgman. "The Collier Trophy is a benchmark for aviation excellence and achievement, and we are deeply honored that the S-92 is taking its place among the most important aeronautical accomplishments of the past century."
The S-92 achieved type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in December 2002, with FAA Regional Administrator Amy Corbett calling the aircraft "the world's safest helicopter."
Breaking new ground for medium-weight helicopters, the S-92 provides unprecedented levels of safety and reliability. It is the only aircraft in its class certified to the rigorous FAA Part 29 requirements, incorporating the latest specifications for flaw tolerance, bird strike capability and turbine burst protection.
In addition to its superior safety features, the S-92 excels in the areas of performance and low operating cost. The aircraft offers a 50% decrease in internal noise and 30% decrease in vibration over existing helicopters, offering passengers a quieter and more comfortable ride. Dramatically reduced operating costs make helicopter airlines more economically viable.
Borgman noted that these same innovations have great appeal to potential military customers. "Safety, reliability, performance and low operating cost are all major advantages that are incorporated into the H-92, the military version of the S-92. Coupled with the combat virtues of its drive train, such as ballistic tolerance, the H-92 is an outstanding candidate for the next generation Presidential transport mission for the U.S. Marine Corps and the Combat Search and Rescue mission of the U.S. Air Force."
The S-92 Team, under the leadership of S-92 Program Manager Nick Lappos, also includes General Electric (engines) and Rockwell Collins (cockpit flight instruments).
This year's Collier Trophy is the latest in a long tradition of receiving this honor for the business units of United Technologies Corporation, formerly known as United Aircraft. The list begins in 1933, when the company then called Hamilton Standard (now Hamilton Sundstrand) was honored for developing the controllable pitch propeller. Pan American Airways was honored for pioneering safe transpacific airline travel in 1936, with many of those landmark flights taking place in Sikorsky S-42 flying boats. The helicopter industry, including Sikorsky Aircraft, was recognized in 1950 for developing rotary-wing air rescue operations. Leonard Hobbs of United Aircraft earned the Collier Trophy in 1952 for the development and production of the J-57 jet engine. In 1970, Pratt & Whitney won plaudits as part of the Boeing 747 team. Pratt & Whitney engines also powered the winners of the 1975 (Air Force F-16), 1994 (C-17 Globemaster), and 1995 (Boeing 777) Collier Trophies. Both Hamilton Sundstrand and Pratt & Whitney participated in the advanced turboprop propulsion technology achievements that earned the 1987 Collier Trophy. And in 2001, a Pratt & Whitney-led team was honored for the development of the Joint Strike Fighter's integrated lift fan propulsion system. The 2002 award will be presented in Washington D.C in June.