Fly-by-Wire Times Four

Sikorsky Aircraft has four fly-by-wire development programs under way simultaneously. The fly-by-wire test H-92 variant for the Canadian Maritime Helicopter Program made its first flight late last year. A similar flight control upgrade for the U.S. Army’s UH-60M is slated for its first flight by March 31. The company’s also is working on fly-by-wire for the U.S. Marine Corps CH-53K next-generation heavy lifter and for its X2 technology demonstrator, also slated for first flight by March 31. Of the four, the X2 system may be the least complex, not having the operational requirements of the other three. While the UH-60M upgrade must retain that aircraft’s hover-hold capability, for instance, the X2 has no such need. For related news