I have been standing out the back of my office for the past hour watching a number of test flights being operated by the stunning new Sikorsky 92 - certainly one of the best looking aircraft that I have seen here in Aberdeen.
I am trying to get some good shots of the aircraft but it keeps flying the wrong way out of the airport so it doesn't pass over my office. I am still getting some reasonable shots and will visit the airport itself this evening to see if I can get an upclose view of the aircraft.
In the words of Australian legend Big Kev, "I'm excited".
I remember seeing the New York Airways S-61s back in the late 1970s ... the ones that used to operate between LGA and JFK, and to the roof of the Pan Am Building (unfortunately now known to many as the "Met Life" building )
They would taxi, take-off and land like fixed-wing planes.
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Sweet pictures Eddy! Notice the beautiful American flag on that baby...why isn't she flying in the good ole' USA? How do you know "tests" were being done? You're right, this is very cool!!!
I'm betting that the S-92 was being used in suitability trials of some sort to the North Sea oil rigs. If I remember right, a lot of the offshore rig helo support companies that support the operations in the North Sea fly out of Aberdeen. Such operators would be one of the prime customers for a helicopter like the Sikorsky S-92.
Originally posted by Gordon Werner aren't these the helos that are going to replace Marine 1 and Marine 2 (the helicopters the President uses to get to the White House)
G.
Right on Gordon. From what I understand, the Marines actually saw this aircraft flying at the Paris Airshow a few weeks ago and have since had their own private demonstrations. I think they have already ordered two of them but instead of carrying the name S-92, they get a special prefix, like all other military aircraft in the US (like KC-10 etc).
The 92 was in Aberdeen for, as JP suggests, suitability trials for the two major heli-operators here. Aberdeen is actually the busiest heliport in the world with all of the off-shore traffic and we can have up to SEVEN take-offs and landings here at the same time because of the way in which ATC handles these. Both Bristow and CHC Scotia have ordered the S-92 so it's only a matter of time before this becomes a regular visitor to ABZ.
Correction, Eddy, the Sikorsky S-92 has yet to be selected in the competition to replace the VH-3D in HMX-1, the Marine Corps' squadron of VIP presidential helicopters. There have been growing concerns regarding the maintainability and reliability of the elderly VH-3Ds.
Sikorsky is offering an executive version of the S-92 and the primary competitor is an Americanized version of the AgustaWestland EH101 referred to as the US101 which is being pitched by Lockheed Martin. The contract is to be awarded later this year or early 2004 with an IOC (initial operating capability) in 2007. The number of helos procured will only number between 11-35, depending upon the price and operational requirements of HMX-1, but given that this aircraft will fly the President as Marine One, the visibility and prestige of the contract make this competition sure to be hard-fought.
In the longer term, the winner will likely stand to get awards for the replacement CSAR helo for the USAF (to replace the MH-53J Pave Low birds), VERTREP/vertical replenishment helo for the Navy (to replace the CH-46 and SH-60), minesweeper helos for the Navy as well (to replace the MH-53E Sea Dragons. There's even talk of the winner as an insurance plan in any event of failure of the MV-22 Osprey program.
The US101 and the S 92 both have much larger cabins than the Black Hawk, while the Sea King VIP variant is getting long in the tooth.
Sikorsky is pushing the "Designed and Built in the USA" aspect of the S92, while the US101 consortium is pushing the fact that it will be built in the US, and that it is an "in-service" design, with the inherent safety of three engines.
It remains to be seen which wins out, sentimentality or safety.
If it was on the basis of the best helicopter, it would be the 101, but strange things happen in such competitions.
The EH-101 is in service with the UK armed forces (RAF & RN), and the Italian armed forces, as well as the Canadian search and rescue service, and is almost certain to be selected to replace the Canadian Forces Sea Kings.
The S92 is in military service with....... no one.
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I saw what I assume was this same aircraft at STN about ten days ago. It looked as if it was carrying a VIP there were plain clothed security opperatives everywhere, also alot of men in light brown boiler suites. I certainly wasn't brave enough to take any pictures.
Very nice machine though.
What a beaut....
The S-92 demostator was used in the movie Mr. Deeds.
)
What is going to happen to the UH-60?
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