EVENDALE, Ohio - The first flight of the prototype Sikorsky S-92A Helibus medium-lift helicopter, powered by two General Electric CT7 turboshaft engines, has been successfully completed at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center at West Palm Beach, Florida.
The engines performed flawlessly throughout the 51-minute flight, which included eight takeoffs and landings plus hover, forward and sideward flight maneuvers.
CT7-6D engines, rated at 2,030 shaft horsepower (shp) takeoff power, are currently installed in this first of four flying prototypes in the aircraft development program. The three remaining flying prototypes and all production S-92 Helibus helicopters will be powered by CT7-8 engines rated at 2,400 shp takeoff power, with first flight of a CT7-8-powered S-92 prototype scheduled for May of this year. A fifth prototype serves strictly as a ground-test vehicle.
"GE is proud to be part of Sikorsky's S-92 team," said Ed Birtwell, general manager of GE's T700/CT7 Project, "and we are very pleased with the results of the first flight."
Current turboshaft and turboprop engines in the T700/CT7 family power 24 types of civil and military helicopters, regional airliners, military transports and multipurpose aircraft throughout the world. To date, 11,000 T700/CT7 engines have accumulated more than 30 million flight hours powering more than 4,000 aircraft, often in extreme environments, while maintaining a reputation for outstanding reliability.
The Sikorsky S-92 Helibus is expected to serve a range of needs throughout the world in passenger, cargo, aeromedical, search and rescue, resource development support, and other applications.