Sikorsky S-92

Infobox Aircraft
name= S-92 / H-92


caption= A CHC Helikopter Service S-92
type= Medium-lift transport/utility helicopter
national origin = United States
manufacturer= Sikorsky Aircraft
designer=
first flight= December 1998
introduced= 2004
retired=
status=
primary user= CHC Helicopter
more users= Bristow Helicopters
Petroleum Helicopters
produced= 2000s-present
number built=
unit cost=US$15.3 million
developed from = Sikorsky S-70
variants with their own articles = CH-148 Cyclone

The Sikorsky S-92 is a medium-lift twin-engine helicopter. It is a larger evolution of the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter.

The H-92 Superhawk is a military version, available as a 22-troop utility transport, and in a number of mission-specific configurations, including Search and Rescue and VIP transportation. The H-92 was ordered by the Canadian Forces in 2004 as the CH-148 Cyclone.

Development

The S-92 took its maiden flight in December 1998 at the Sikorsky Development Flight Centre, West Palm Beach, Florida. FAA FAR part 29 certification was received in December 2002. European Aviation Safety Agency/Joint Aviation Authorities (EASA/JAA) certification was received in June 2004. The first S-92 was delivered to launch customer Petroleum Helicopters in September 2004. Orders have been received for more than 100 helicopters.

The S-92 entered commercial revenue service on July 3, 2007 with CHC Denmark. [ [http://www.sikorsky.com/news_archive/1,9591,CLI1_DIV69_ETI436_PID7967,00.html "S-92 Helicopter Makes First Flight in Denmark"] , Sikorsky Aircraft, August 15, 2007.]

Design

The civil S-92 has a metal and composite airframe. The four-bladed fully articulated composite main rotor blade is wider and has a longer radius than the S-70 Blackhawk. The tapered blade tip sweeps back and angles downward to reduce noise and increase lift. In response to requests for additional cabin space, Sikorsky has increased the cabin length of the final prototype by 41 cm, reduced the height of the tail pylon and relocated the horizontal stabilizer. Tethered hover flight has recorded 31,000 lb of lift generated, both in and out of ground effect.

A number of safety features such as flaw tolerance, bird strike capability, and engine burst containment have been incorporated into the design. Adherence to FAA FAR part 29 has led the FAA certification board to call the S-92 the "safest helicopter in the world". [http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2105496/Article/index_html "Superhawk may succeed Nuri"] NST Online December 12, 2007] An active vibration system using structurally mounted force generators ensures comfortable flight and acoustic levels which are well below certification requirements. These systems also prolong the life of the airframe by reducing fatigue loads on the aircraft.

Variants

-92

The S-92 is the civilian variant and is available in a number of versions. The civil transport version has an airliner-type interior which comfortably seats 19 passengers in a 20ft long, 6 ft high and 6 ft 7 in wide standup cabin. The utility transport version has 22 side-facing seats in a large, stand-up cabin with a full cabin width rear ramp. The 733 ft³ interior cabin area can also be configured to accommodate up to three airline-style LD3 cargo containers. Additional stowage space is available in the 140 ft³ area located in the aft ramp compartment.

H-92 Superhawk

The H-92 Superhawk is the military variant which has been demonstrated to the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The H-92 has more powerful GE CT7-8C engines, rated at 3,070shp (2,300 kW). The search and rescue variant provides space for seats, litters, auxiliary fuel and SAR emergency equipment.

In July 2004, the H-92 Superhawk was selected by Canada for its Maritime Helicopter Programme (MHP) as the CH-148 Cyclone. Twenty-eight helicopters were ordered, with the first scheduled to enter service by January 9, 2009, [ [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070123.wcyclo0123/BNStory/National/home "Sikorsky strike to slow delivery of new helicopters"] , theGlobeandmail.com, January 23, 2007.] which was originally scheduled for November 2008. [ [http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=1520 "Government of Canada Awards Contracts to Sikorsky for New Canadian Forces Maritime Helicopter"] , Canadian Forces news, November 23, 2004.]

A SAR H-92 variant is Sikorsky's entrant in the CSAR-X combat search and rescue contract for the USAF. The competitors include the AgustaWestland EH101 and Boeing HH-47.

Operators

Government operators

;CAN
*Canadian Forces has an order for 28 CH-148 helicopters.;KWT
*Emir of Kuwait operates 2 helicopters.;QAT
*Government of Qatar operates 1 helicopter.;KOR
*Government of the Republic of Korea operates 3 helicopters. [Air Forces Monthly, December 2007 issue, p.25.] ;SAU
*Saudi Interior Ministry ordered 16 helicopters at Dubai Airshow November 2007.;TUR
*Government of Turkey operates 1 helicopter.;TKM
*Government of Turkmenistan operates 2 helicopters.;GBR
*Her Majesty's Coastguard operates 4 helicopters leased from CHC Helicopter;THA
*3 ordered for Thai Government

Civil operators

;BRU
* Brunei Shell Petroleum – 3;CAN
* CHC Helicopter – 12
* Cougar Helicopters – 5;PRC
* Eastern General Aviation – 1;FIN
* Copterline of Finland – 1;NOR
* Aircontactgruppen AS – 6
* Norsk Helikopter – 6;QAT
* Gulf Helicopters – 1;UK
* Bristow Helicopters 6;USA
* RDV Corporation – 1
* Blackwater USA
* Era Aviation – 0
* Petroleum Helicopters, Inc (PHI) – 11
* Washington Times Aviation – 1

Incidents and accidents

On July 19, 2008, an S-92 helicopter carrying Rev. Sun Myung Moon crashed in South Korea. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7515435.stm "Moonies founder 'hurt in crash'"] , BBC, 19 July 2008.] There were 16 people aboard and 14 were slightly injured in the crash. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/19/moon.crash.ap/index.html "Rev. Moon hurt in copter crash, official says"] , CNN, 19 July 2008.] [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/19/asia/AS-SKorea-Helicopter-Crash.php Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, 15 others injured in helicopter crash] , Herald Tribune, 19 July 2008]

pecifications (S-92)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop

ref=S-92 Superhawk brochure [ [http://www.sikorsky.com/sik/products/commercial/s92/s92_family.asp Sikorsky S-92 Helicopter Attributes page] ]
crew=2
capacity=22
length main= 68 ft 6 in
length alt= 20.9 m
span main= 56 ft 4 in
span alt= 17.17 m
height main= 15 ft 5 in
height alt= 4.71 m
area main= 2,650 ft²
area alt= 246 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 16,600 lb
empty weight alt= 7,530 kg
loaded weight main= 26,500 lb
loaded weight alt= 12,020 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 28,300 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 12,800 kg
more general=Fuselage length: 56 ft 2 in (17.1 m)
*Fuselage width: 17 ft 3 in (5.26 m)
*Rotor systems: 4 blades on main rotor
engine (prop)=General Electric CT7-8A
type of prop= turboshafts
number of props=2
power main= 3,000 shp
power alt= 2,238 kW
power original=
max speed main= 165 knots
max speed alt= 190 mph, 306 km/h
cruise speed main= 151 kt, 174 mph
cruise speed alt=280 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 800 nmi
range alt= 920 mi, 1,482 km
range more= (internal fuel)
combat radius main=
combat radius alt=
combat radius more=
ferry range main=
ferry range alt=
ferry range more=
ceiling main= 13,780 ft
ceiling alt= 4,200 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= 9.8 lb/ft²
loading alt= 48 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.23 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.38 W/kg
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* CH-148 Cyclone
* Sikorsky S-70
similar aircraft=
* Sikorsky S-61L/N
* AgustaWestland EH101
* Eurocopter Cougar
* Eurocopter Super Puma

lists=
* List of helicopters
see also=

References

* Leoni, Ray D. "Black Hawk, The Story of a World Class Helicopter", American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2007. ISBN 978-1-56347-918-2.

External links

* [http://www.sikorsky.com/details/0,9602,CLI1_DIV69_ETI890,00.html S-92 page on Sikorsky.com]
* [http://www.sikorsky.com/details/0,3036,CLI1_DIV69_ETI1583,00.html H-92 page on Sikorsky.com]
* [http://www.sikorsky.com/news_index/1,9599,CLI1_DIV69_ETI435_PID8118,00.html "CHC Orders 12 Sikorsky S-92 Helicopters"] , Sikorsky Aircraft, November 2, 2007.