Archives :: Rotor & Wing Magazine :: Issue :: Cover Story
Displaying 1 - 20 of 57 stories.
December 1, 2011
Eurocopter’s EC145T2 takes to the skies with a BK117 during a recent customer demonstration of the helicopter variant from its facility in Grand Prairie, Texas. Eurocopter Eurocopter has received a large fleet order from a longtime operator, as DRF Luftrettung has agreed to purchase 25 EC145T2s. The...November 1, 2011
The Chinook H-47 is 50 years old—a veritable Douglas DC-3 Dakota of the rotary wing world (which was actually rivaled by Boeing’s 247 in its early years). On September 21 at Ridley Park, near Philadelphia, the great and the good from the Chinook’s present and past gathered at a ceremony in the newly refurbished factory to mark the occasion. On hand was U.S. Army Aviation Program Executive...October 1, 2011
Aaron Todd, CEO of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) provider Air Methods, spoke with Rotor & Wing in September for a wide-ranging interview covering a number of topics, including the company’s recent acquisition of Omniflight Helicopters and the challenges facing the HEMS industry. With the acquisition, the Air Methods fleet now consists of 398 helicopters—Eurocopter, Bell and...September 1, 2011
Makers of military rotorcraft are understandably nervous these days with the real possibility of up to $700 billion in defense-related cuts between now and 2023. Add in the recent credit default showdown and trillions in anticipated budget cuts from the so-called Congressional “super committee,” and the uncertainty increases. But the anxiety could be unnecessary, according to several industry...August 1, 2011
Line ‘em up: Bristow Academy has a fleet of around 50 helicopters based at its largest campus in Titusville, Fla. Photos courtesy Bristow Academy 21:30 local time. Your Sikorsky S-92 is two hours out of Bergen, Norway. Tonight’s destination is the company rig’s 50-by-50 helipad located 225 feet above the churning North Sea. OAT: –5º C. Wind Direction: 290. Speed: 30 kts...July 1, 2011
DSP’s Aviation Section is a 24/7 operation that serves the state’s 890,000 citizens, and supports the agency’s 620 troopers. N75SP, shown here, is its latest Bell 407, which is outfitted for both police and emergency medical transport missions. Photo by John Randolph Too often, we inadvertently make assumptions about the quality of something based upon its size. As children, we figured...June 1, 2011
AAS-72X technical demonstration aircraft from EADS North America. EADS At the U.S. Army Aviation’s annual exposition, Quad-A, EADS North America took along one of its three company-funded technical demonstrator aircraft (TDA) which was virtually a challenge of “we’re here; where’s everyone else?” The aircraft is known as the Armed Aerial Scout 72X. The Armed Aerial Scout...May 1, 2011
Kevin Bredenbeck Sikorsky’s X2 Moves Toward the S-97 Actual voice transmission during the Sept. 15, 2010 test flight when the Sikorsky X2 broke the 250-knot objective: “245, 250, 251 knots... pretty much level... lower the nose... nice... 260, 262... bringing the nose up, bringing the prop back at the same time... wow, that was nice, I can’t thank you guys enough, that was amazing.”...April 1, 2011
Approaching an obstacle in the Jet Ranger. Garmin G500H synthetic vision database shows a virtual representation of the tower ahead. Soon it will turn yellow, and then red, and a voice in my headset will provide an aural warning. Let’s face it, depending on where you live and why you fly, a lot of visual flight rules (VFR) flying is not always exactly “VFR.” We live on a planet with...March 1, 2011
The short video clip from Bell Helicopter’s website is impressive. “Welcome to the evolution of Bell Helicopter,” says the announcer dramatically, as Bell 4 Series rotorcraft skim effortlessly over the ground. The message is brief, but the intent is clear: This is the new Bell Helicopter, revitalized with new products and decisive leadership. It will take more than slick advertising for...February 1, 2011
Robinson Helicopter’s R66 Turbine was awarded an FAA type certificate on Oct. 25, 2010, and, based upon the 100 units already on order, is expected to be as popular as its top-selling piston stablemate, the R44. Base price for the five-seat, single-engine helicopter is $790,000. Okay, I’ll tell you up front that I’ve never avoided a chance to check out a helicopter, even a bad one...January 1, 2011
Since you are reading this, chances are high that you are also one of the poor souls who suffer from a disease called helicoptering. Therefore, I trust that you know that the Cabri G2 is built by Guimbal Hélicoptères in France and you know that Cabri is a little goat (also called a kid) in French. What you might not know is, Cabri also stands for Comfort in Autorotation Belongs to Rotor...December 1, 2010
Sikorsky President Jeff Pino unveils the S-97 Raider in late October. Joy Finnegan Photo Sikorsky Aircraft has uncovered plans to build two prototype light tactical helicopters (LTHs) based on the X2 Technology demonstrator that unofficially claimed the helicopter world speed record in September, reaching 250 knots (288 mph) at the company’s Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Fla...November 1, 2010
The simple but sophisticated TH-1H glass cockpit. Three MFDs define the clean panel layout with the center MFD serving as an aircraft systems instrumentation and fuel display. Amid a sea of green there is this small Air Force blue unit charged with responsibility of providing helicopter flight training for all undergraduate pilots proceeding to flying careers in the Air Force’s UH-1N Huey...October 1, 2010
On Sept.15, 2010, Sikorsky Aircraft’s X2 Technology demonstrator flew at a speed of 250 knots true airspeed in level flight at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. Reaching 250 knots accomplished the program’s ultimate speed target. The milestone, reached during a 1.1-hour flight, is an unofficial speed record for a helicopter. The demonstrator also reached 260 knots...September 1, 2010
Enhanced vision (EV) and synthetic vision (SV) systems are becoming more common in rotary-wing as well as fixed-wing aircraft. The technologies are particularly valuable in helicopters, which fly much of the time at low altitude in the terrain. EV, typically based on IR sensors, gives the pilot a thermal image of the area in front of the aircraft, which is very compatible with human eyesight. SV is a...August 1, 2010
On a clear day, eastern South Dakota appears to be a benevolent setting for helicopter flight. The landscape is as flat as a hospital bed, and it appears covered by a giant patchwork quilt, created by the checkerboard design of farm fields. The razor-edge horizon allows a view of blue skies as far as the eye can see. The two HEMS operations in Sioux Falls, S.D. are Avera McKennan Hospital and University...July 1, 2010
The size of the problem depends on who’s talking. Several agencies are struggling, said Martin Jackson, president of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA). Some units are shutting down or cutting back drastically on flight operations. Others estimate as many as 40 shutdowns, with four to five in California, alone. Some departments flying older military helicopters are having trouble...June 1, 2010
Mindful of the Safety & Training Summit at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center in Denver June 8–9, Rotor & Wing talked to operators about the challenges for helicopter pilots flying in Colorado and the training facilities available in the state. Commercial operators discussed special training for pilots to handle mountain conditions, and local flight schools reflected on the best training methods...May 1, 2010
It’s not good when a pilot loses situational awareness in a dust cloud near the ground. Brownout is a major threat to helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. Department of Defense has estimated that 37 percent of helicopter losses there between 2001 and 2008 involved brownout and obstacle strikes. This article looks at pilot brownout aids and other emerging technologies. Combat unit training...
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