Sikorsky will soon have a full complement of S-92 prototypes ready for flight testing, as the final aircraft heads toward the hangar door. The fifth prototype includes the production avionics configuration change to Rockwell Collins displays.
The S-92 and its military variant, the H-92, have now completed more than 600 flight hours in the development programme. Aircraft 2 has logged 340h in the air, while Aircraft 3 has accumulated 220h since first flight in October 1999, including flight evaluations in military mission applications. Aircraft 5 validated the longer cabin and lower tail and has spent some 55h in the air.
Sikorsky has increased the S-92 cabin length by 41cm (11in), reduced the height of the tail pylon and relocated the horizontal stabilizer in response to customer requests for additional cabin space and a larger main cabin door.
The extension added to the forward part of the cabin permits the installation of a 1.27m-wide (4.2ft) door to improve hoisting capabilities and accommodate a Stokes litter during search and rescue operations.
Reducing the tail pylon by 1m offsets the additional weight from the cabin extension, maintaining committed offshore oil support payload and range at a Category A gross weight of 11,872kg (26,150lb).
Source: Flight Daily News
