Sikorsky’s X2 technology demonstrator reached 225 knots in recent flight trials at the manufacturer’s Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. The mark breaks the previous top speed for a helicopter, set at 216 knots by a Westland Lynx 800 in 1986. Sikorsky is targeting 250 knots for the X2 by the end of third quarter 2010.

Helicopter industry insiders came to Rotor & Wing’s 2010 Safety and Training Summit in June. The event featured a keynote speech from FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, as well as a series of panels focused on issues within the rotorcraft industry. For videos from the Summit, visit www.aviationtoday.com/rw/safety_training_channel/

AVX Aircraft is proposing to convert the U.S. Army’s existing OH-58Ds by replacing the conventional rotors with co-axial counter-rotating rotors and ducted fans instead of a tail rotor. AVX spokesman Mike Cox says an investment of $31 million would result in the development of a concept demonstrator aircraft which, he claims, could be flying within 18 months. However, he notes that the company does not want to begin a manufacturing line and was talking to a number of potential partners, including Bell Helicopter, although all talks are at a very early stage. Image courtesy of AVX Aircraft.

Capt. Thomas Huff, Commander, Naval Test Wing Atlantic (center-left) and Lt. Col. Roger Cordell, Commander, U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (center-right) with the Tactical Airlift, Adversary and Support programs (PMA-207) and TPS UH-72A team with the five new Lakotas at the TPS hangar. The Navy took delivery of the first Lakota in November 2009 and the last one arrived in January 2010. The helicopters are replacements for the school’s fleet of TH-6B Cayuse helicopters. Photo courtesy U.S. Navy.

Rotor & Wing Editor-at-Large Ernie Stephens snapped hundreds of photos during Heli-Expo. Graphic designer Joy Park put together this collage of several of Ernie's top images. For more photos, videos and a blog from the show, click on the Heli-Expo tabs on the left-hand side of the Rotor & Wing home page.

View of the show floor from Heli-Expo 2010, held Feb. 20-23 in Houston, Texas. The show featured 595 exhibitors and more than 16,000 attendees, according to estimates. Photo credit: Ernie Stephens, Editor-at-Large