Sikorsky SB-1 flies for first time
Originally Posted by PAXboy
the Osprey is not a runaway success
The coaxial rotor design concept isn't all that new. Kamov had two maritime helicopters that were serviceable (Helix/Hormone) but the trick they are going for in SB1 is to add the high speed flight end of the game to that basic idea. As noted above, that was tried 40 years ago with varying issues arising.
With a lot of new tech available, they can try again with greater hopes for success. They are also doing the crawl, walk, run thing: X2, S-97, now SB1.
Pax,
Marines continue to set the pace.
Marines continue to set the pace.
US Marine Corps (USMC) Lieutenant General Steven Rudder, deputy commandant for aviation, is confident that a tiltrotor can meet the service’s minimum cruise speed goal of 270kt (500km/h) for its Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA).
The USMC plans to piggyback on the US Army-run FLRAA programme, though it wants a next-generation utility rotorcraft with even more capability than the US Army is asking, in particular the ability to cruise at least 270kt, which is the cruise speed of the Bell Boeing V-22.
The USMC plans to piggyback on the US Army-run FLRAA programme, though it wants a next-generation utility rotorcraft with even more capability than the US Army is asking, in particular the ability to cruise at least 270kt, which is the cruise speed of the Bell Boeing V-22.
Coming Up on Three Months Since First Flight
Almost three months have past since the Defiant’s First Flight. Any flight test updates? Not unusual for a new aircraft to be down for a month following First Flight. But three months?
Raider has actually been flying since mid last year, demoing in secret at the request of the Army while also testing numerous desperate attempts to fix its gargantuan vibration issues. SB1 may be going down the same path as it (amazingly) did not incorporate many lessons learned from S-97.
I would imagine a much more vocal propaganda push about how ITEP will make UH-60 and AH-64 perfectly suitable moving forward, and that FVL is an expensive wholly unnecessary endeavour.
From FG:
From Sikorsky:
So only three flights in three months confirmed. Appears they haven’t done anything beyond hover and very low speed. If this is the case nothing of the design has been validated and the vibration claim is no better than saying it is smooth while being towed. These kind of statements are the type made trying to keep LM from pulling the plug on funding. (Remember LM is on the V-280 where they have already seen the full capabilities of the aircraft and their products demonstrated to a timeline set back in 2015.)
The compound co-axial rotor design flew for the first time in March, and has since made just two additional sorties, putting it well behind the rival Bell V-280 tiltrotor, which took to the air in December 2017.
"We were hoping that we would be flying more," says Dan Schultz, president of Sikorsky.
Initial delays were caused by a third party that is producing a gearbox component, and the airframer is now working to catch up on the schedule slip.
Controls, transmission and rotor design have been validated by the flights so far, says Schultz, with "minimal vibration" detected.
Initial delays were caused by a third party that is producing a gearbox component, and the airframer is now working to catch up on the schedule slip.
Controls, transmission and rotor design have been validated by the flights so far, says Schultz, with "minimal vibration" detected.
Last edited by The Sultan; 16th Jun 2019 at 22:44.
So, another couple months and more deafening silence from the Defiant team. Has anyone heard any news?
Only 4 weeks of summer left...
Upon successful PSTB endurance envelop expansion, we expect to be positioned to quickly expand the aircraft flight envelope later this summer
Where Was SB-1 During Dorian
A good measure of the program is posed by the question of where the SB-1 was as hurricane Dorian was being projected to hit its base at Jupiter, Florida?
1. Did they fly it out? It has been five months since first flight and, by Sikorsky’s statements, well into envelope expansion by August.
2. Trucked it out? Embarrassing but may have been necessary if still not safe to fly.
3. Left in hangar medivac, or maybe on ramp, in hopes of a direct hit which would allow them to end the program without more data to reinforce the obvious fact that the concept is a bust?
1. Did they fly it out? It has been five months since first flight and, by Sikorsky’s statements, well into envelope expansion by August.
2. Trucked it out? Embarrassing but may have been necessary if still not safe to fly.
3. Left in hangar medivac, or maybe on ramp, in hopes of a direct hit which would allow them to end the program without more data to reinforce the obvious fact that the concept is a bust?
A good measure of the program is posed by the question of where the SB-1 was as hurricane Dorian was being projected to hit its base at Jupiter, Florida?
1. Did they fly it out? It has been five months since first flight and, by Sikorsky’s statements, well into envelope expansion by August.
2. Trucked it out? Embarrassing but may have been necessary if still not safe to fly.
3. Left in hangar medivac, or maybe on ramp, in hopes of a direct hit which would allow them to end the program without more data to reinforce the obvious fact that the concept is a bust?
1. Did they fly it out? It has been five months since first flight and, by Sikorsky’s statements, well into envelope expansion by August.
2. Trucked it out? Embarrassing but may have been necessary if still not safe to fly.
3. Left in hangar medivac, or maybe on ramp, in hopes of a direct hit which would allow them to end the program without more data to reinforce the obvious fact that the concept is a bust?
No SB-1 Updates on Flight Test Status for Five Months?
No one out there with any intel on they can share on SB-1 flight test status?
I would assume any aircraft flights into FAA controlled air space would be public knowledge. Does lack of any information on flights into public air space infer that there have been no flights other than low level hovering within airport property?
I would assume any aircraft flights into FAA controlled air space would be public knowledge. Does lack of any information on flights into public air space infer that there have been no flights other than low level hovering within airport property?
I would assume any aircraft flights into FAA controlled air space would be public knowledge.
ADS-B. The V-280 and it’s chase aircraft were required to carry ADS-B. Plus both the SB-1 and V-280 aircraft required FAA registration and FAA safety of flight clearance.
Last edited by CTR; 9th Sep 2019 at 22:19.
From Flightglobal:
The requirements are for a 295 kts cruise with a combat radius of over 400 miles which exceeds the latest FLRAA spec. Submission of responses are by Jan 2020. The question is will Boeing stick with the SB-1 (which by Sikorsky’s last press release has yet to reach 15 kts), make an independent response, or beg Bell to let them partner on Bell’s 280 based response?
Would expect some indication by AUSA in mid-October.
The US Marine Corps issued a request for information for its Attack Utility Replacement Aircraft (AURA) programme, formally launching its search for a rotorcraft to succeed the Vietnam War-era Bell UH-1 utility and AH-1 attack helicopters.
Would expect some indication by AUSA in mid-October.
That's a pretty weird article, about these *Vietnam War-era Bell UH-1 utility and AH-1 attack helicopters*
The AH-1W was, for example, hardly "Viet Nam era" given it's two T-700 engines and improved weapons systems.
The Marines now have the UH-1Y and AH-1Z that are not "Viet Nam Era" - they reflect a considerable improvement to the state of the art of the Huey/Cobra line.
Granted, the Marines looking long term at the next big change in attack helicopter capability to match their Ospreys makes sense, in terms of being able to keep up with the V-22's.
The AH-1W was, for example, hardly "Viet Nam era" given it's two T-700 engines and improved weapons systems.
The Marines now have the UH-1Y and AH-1Z that are not "Viet Nam Era" - they reflect a considerable improvement to the state of the art of the Huey/Cobra line.
Granted, the Marines looking long term at the next big change in attack helicopter capability to match their Ospreys makes sense, in terms of being able to keep up with the V-22's.
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Haven't seen the actual RFI document yet. Responses to some sections are due Nov. 22 and responses to other sections are due Jan. 1. Be interesting to see if they get any proposals for innovative propulsion/aero concepts that meet their objectives and truly merit funding. Giving serious funding to small companies to rapidly develop innovative concepts applicable to AURA objectives is also a good way to keep the existing JMR/FVL teams on their toes.
