Sikorsky continues to advance vertical flight technology with development of the X2 Technology™ Demonstrator aircraft.The X2 Demonstrator is scheduled to take flight in 2007.
X2 Technology™ refers to an integrated suite of technologies that improve the performance of coaxial helicopters. These include a number of state-of-the-art technologies that will enable a new generation of helicopters to fly at high speed, but retain all the desirable flying qualities of a helicopter at low speed, without any in-flight configuration transition. The term X2 refers to not only the most visible feature of this helicopter - two main rotors - but also refers to the intended benefits of this technology - roughly twice the speed and twice the distance.
This suite of technologies includes advanced blade technologies to significantly increase lift without increasing drag, fly by wire, active vibration control, advanced hub drag reduction, and an integrated propulsion system that intelligently controls the power shared by the aft propulsor and the main rotor. The main rotor will be slowed during high speed flight to keep the rotor tips below supersonic speeds. X2 Technology™ can also be applied to conventional speed coaxial helicopters without auxiliary propulsion, enabling even greater lift and hover efficiency.
X2 Technology™ can be scaled to serve a variety of customer missions, taking advantage of the unique benefits of advanced coaxial rotor technology. These include, but are not limited to, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; commercial aircraft; and Heavy Lift, and armed attack/escort.
