Heli-Expo 2009: Carson techs teach old S-dog new tricks

Frank Carson, president of Pennsylvania-based Carson Helicopters (and self-proclaimed avid reader of Flight International) says he has sold 60 sets of his company's performance boosting composite main rotor blades for the Sikorsky S-61 helicopter since receiving an STC for the modification in 2004.

Carson spoke with me today at the Heli Expo 2009 show in Anaheim. Ignore the publication in his lap in the picture I took. Do notice however the new Sagem glass cockpit in the company S-61...

Carson says the $1.25 million upgrade, which includes five rotor blades produced by Ducommun, increases the medium-heavy twin's lift capacity by 2,000lb, its speed by 15kt and its service life to 20,000h from 10,000h for the heritage metal blades.

Buyers so far include the UK Royal Navy, which is using the blades on its Sea Kings in Afghanistan and the US government, which is investigating the blades for the Presidential VH-3 fleet.

Carson estimates there are 350 military and 80 civilian S-61s still flying, all of which can benefit from the blades and other improvements underway at the company. Sikorsky produced the model from 1959 to 1980, building nearly 800 aircraft.

Along with the main blade STC, Carson is also working on a composite tail rotor that increases payload by 400lb by reducing by 50shp the amount of power needed by the tail. A new glass cockpit featuring Sagem displays has not yet been priced, nor has a new interior kit that seats 16 or more.

Taken together as a package, Carson believes that with the upgrades operators can milk another 20-30 years out of their assets. "The technology is just as good as a brand new helicopter," he says.