Erickson To Begin Flying Optionally-piloted Air Crane Next Year | Aviation International News

Erickson To Begin Flying Optionally-piloted Air Crane Next Year

Erickson said it would begin flying an optionally-piloted S-64F+ in 2022 and that it aimed for first customer deliveries in 2024.

Erickson considers the S-64F+ an ideal candidate for certain military heavy-lift applications.

By Mark Huber • Contributor

March 17, 2021

Erickson plans to make the first flight of its optionally-piloted S-64F+ Air Crane next year, with customer deliveries of the new helicopter variant to begin as early as 2024, the company announced February 23. The aircraft will be equipped with all-composite main rotor blades that Erickson certified late last year, as well as Sikorsky’s Matrix optional pilot technology and new turboshaft engines with Fadec. A HUD might also be available for the F+ in concert with Erickson’s new aerial water cannon.

A senior Erickson executive said the high/hot performance of the F+ will be improved over the current production model. The new composite main rotor blades alone will increase the payload at 25 degrees C and 8,000 feet by 88 percent—offering an additional 755 pounds— while climb rate at max gross weight and 2,000 feet will rise 69.2 percent, from 1,300 fpm to 2,200 fpm. These numbers will be improved further with the new engine, he said.

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