Sikorsky Raider X - FARA contender
... is at the top of your head.
You've got a lot of damned gall to talk **** about Nick.
For OnePerRev
My most succinct observation on Comanche is that the Army did not trust the misssions systems parallel development to make it a single pilot Helicopter, which is what the 80's era LHX concept was all about for an armed scout.
Further comments on the Army's mentality is censored to not offend my brothers-and-sisters-in-arms from that fine armed service.
You've got a lot of damned gall to talk **** about Nick.
For OnePerRev
My most succinct observation on Comanche is that the Army did not trust the misssions systems parallel development to make it a single pilot Helicopter, which is what the 80's era LHX concept was all about for an armed scout.
Further comments on the Army's mentality is censored to not offend my brothers-and-sisters-in-arms from that fine armed service.
Thread Starter
Now the Army says it’s going to be first flight is in November of 2022? Twenty two months away?
Where is the war?
Some articles are saying fiscal year 2023, which starts in 2022. November 2022 is the only firm date I have found. With the new engine? Considering all the design and analysis that must be performed? Drawings? Test rigs? New blades, rotors, and gearboxes? Procurement of all these parts? Ground test?
From Sikorsky press release:
Impressive! Two demo flights in 3 days. I found it interesting that in the article I saw Sikorsky did not mention a 700 mile ferry flight from West Palm to Huntsville or a return. For a ship with so little flight time one would think these would be big deals. Does anyone know if they actually flew it to Huntsville or trucked it in like they did the ABC to a Ft. Rucker demo in the 70’s (where the XV-15 flew in from its base in Texas)? Also interesting is the article does not mention the speeds obtained.
Full article:
https://theaviationist.com/2021/04/1...stone-arsenal/
Sikorsky demonstrated the S-97 Raider, the company’s development aircraft for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program, to the U.S. Army personnel at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville (Alabama) on April 13 and 15, 2021. Sikorsky’s test pilots Christiaan Corry and Bill Fell flew the Raider in routines “that highlighted both low-level helicopter maneuverability and the high-speed capability”.
Full article:
https://theaviationist.com/2021/04/1...stone-arsenal/
From Sikorsky press release:
Impressive! Two demo flights in 3 days. I found it interesting that in the article I saw Sikorsky did not mention a 700 mile ferry flight from West Palm to Huntsville or a return. For a ship with so little flight time one would think these would be big deals. Does anyone know if they actually flew it to Huntsville or trucked it in like they did the ABC to a Ft. Rucker demo in the 70’s (where the XV-15 flew in from its base in Texas)? Also interesting is the article does not mention the speeds obtained.
Full article:
https://theaviationist.com/2021/04/1...stone-arsenal/
Impressive! Two demo flights in 3 days. I found it interesting that in the article I saw Sikorsky did not mention a 700 mile ferry flight from West Palm to Huntsville or a return. For a ship with so little flight time one would think these would be big deals. Does anyone know if they actually flew it to Huntsville or trucked it in like they did the ABC to a Ft. Rucker demo in the 70’s (where the XV-15 flew in from its base in Texas)? Also interesting is the article does not mention the speeds obtained.
Full article:
https://theaviationist.com/2021/04/1...stone-arsenal/
Re the Post #46 mis-information: The XH-59 was flown up to Ft. Rucker from the DFC in Florida and Messrs Lappos and Dixson got to fly it from Rucker back to West Palm with Dave Wright showing us how it worked. With 2 J-60 turbojets*, it had short legs, so I got the Rucker to JAX and Nick got the JAX to West Palm.
*With the J-60’s pushing, the fuel guage unwound with the angular rate of the second hand on your watch-just about anyway.
*With the J-60’s pushing, the fuel guage unwound with the angular rate of the second hand on your watch-just about anyway.
I was told the trucked in story by the Bell XV-15 team. So apologies if not true. Just to be clear, you are stating that the S-69 was flown from West Palm to Rucker with the jet engines installed, just not operating? Good to know.
The question remains did the S-97 fly from West Palm to Huntsville? If not, why not.? If it did why didn't Sikorsky (who brags about every couple of knots gained) not mention it? The 97 has been flying for SIX years yet I have seen no press releases stating it reached its targeted design speed, the long range promised with the pusher prop, the high altitude performance, etc...
My original point was that if they did not fly it up to Huntsville, they have made no progress from 40 years ago. Now with your info the question is can they even do what the S-69 did?
The question remains did the S-97 fly from West Palm to Huntsville? If not, why not.? If it did why didn't Sikorsky (who brags about every couple of knots gained) not mention it? The 97 has been flying for SIX years yet I have seen no press releases stating it reached its targeted design speed, the long range promised with the pusher prop, the high altitude performance, etc...
My original point was that if they did not fly it up to Huntsville, they have made no progress from 40 years ago. Now with your info the question is can they even do what the S-69 did?
I was told the trucked in story by the Bell XV-15 team. So apologies if not true. Just to be clear, you are stating that the S-69 was flown from West Palm to Rucker with the jet engines installed, just not operating? Good to know.
The question remains did the S-97 fly from West Palm to Huntsville? If not, why not.? If it did why didn't Sikorsky (who brags about every couple of knots gained) not mention it? The 97 has been flying for SIX years yet I have seen no press releases stating it reached its targeted design speed, the long range promised with the pusher prop, the high altitude performance, etc...
My original point was that if they did not fly it up to Huntsville, they have made no progress from 40 years ago. Now with your info the question is can they even do what the S-69 did?
The question remains did the S-97 fly from West Palm to Huntsville? If not, why not.? If it did why didn't Sikorsky (who brags about every couple of knots gained) not mention it? The 97 has been flying for SIX years yet I have seen no press releases stating it reached its targeted design speed, the long range promised with the pusher prop, the high altitude performance, etc...
My original point was that if they did not fly it up to Huntsville, they have made no progress from 40 years ago. Now with your info the question is can they even do what the S-69 did?
FWIW, I had heard the story from the Bell XV-15 team as well, except that as I remember it, they said that because of range limitations the XH-59 was rail shipped to some demonstration sites, while they just flew the XV-15 to where they wanted to go. .
i heard the same story from the Bell flight line mechanics. The only additional aspect was the XV-15 engine exhaust ignited some shrubs on the White House lawn. But nothing a fire extinguisher couldn’t fix.
Hi all,
The speed at the fly past is impressive - but the rest of the shown display isn't really.
Nose diving to gain speed doesn't really promotes the pusher on the back.
The turning and hovering manövers could be done more aggressive in a JetBanger....
Guess there is still lots of programming to be done, cause the counter rotating blades should allow for more agility close to the ground.
Nose diving to gain speed doesn't really promotes the pusher on the back.
The turning and hovering manövers could be done more aggressive in a JetBanger....
Guess there is still lots of programming to be done, cause the counter rotating blades should allow for more agility close to the ground.
Thread Starter
In lieu of recent events, do you reckon L-M Sikorsky could win with Raider X against Bell 360 Invictus.... just musing that like with their fixed wing brethren, such as giving the LRS-B to N-G, while L_m strives ahead with the F-35 and Boeing with the F-15EX.....
Whose ahead in constructing the prototype fly off?
Just my two cents / euros...
cheers
Whose ahead in constructing the prototype fly off?
Just my two cents / euros...
cheers
Dixson and Lappos....now what could possibly go wrong with that pairing!
I was there at West Palm Beach when you guys did the Fort Rucker thing....watched you leave and return.
That was an impressive machine.....especially when all the horses were spurred!
I was there at West Palm Beach when you guys did the Fort Rucker thing....watched you leave and return.
That was an impressive machine.....especially when all the horses were spurred!
Your photo of the Bell Invictus is from March of 2022, and the photo of the Sikorsky Raider is from July 2022. Below is the photo of the Invictus from late July.
This was the month which both companies claimed they were 90% complete. I’ll leave it for you to be the judge of who might’ve been exaggerating.
This was the month which both companies claimed they were 90% complete. I’ll leave it for you to be the judge of who might’ve been exaggerating.
Last edited by T28B; 31st Dec 2022 at 13:33. Reason: didn't need to repeat that photo
Your photo of the Bell Invictus is from March of 2022, and the photo of the Sikorsky Raider is from July 2022. Below is the photo of the Invictus from late July.
This was the month which both companies claimed they were 90% complete. I’ll leave it for you to be the judge of who might’ve been exaggerating.
This was the month which both companies claimed they were 90% complete. I’ll leave it for you to be the judge of who might’ve been exaggerating.