Schweizer S333

The Schweizer 330 and S333 are turbine-powered developments of the Schweizer 300 light piston-powered helicopter. As of 2007, only the Schweizer 333 remains in production.[1] In February 2009, the 333 was rebranded as the Sikorsky S-333.[2]

Schweizer 330 / S333
Schweizer 333 on the tarmac
Role Light utility and trainer helicopter
Manufacturer Schweizer Aircraft Corporation
Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight June 14, 1988
Introduction 1992
Status Active In production
Primary users Dominican Air Force
Royal Saudi Land Forces
Produced 1988–present
Developed from Schweizer S300
Developed into MQ-8 Fire Scout
Sikorsky S-434

Development

Schweizer 330

In 1987, Schweizer announced development of the Schweizer 330 using the dynamic components, rotors, controls and systems of the 300C; however, it was redesigned with an all-new fuselage.[3] The first 330, converted from a 300C and powered by an Allison 250-C10A, flew on June 14, 1988. The FAA certified the aircraft in September 1992.

The improved 330SP was introduced in May 1997 and featured an improved rotor and raised skids, which could be retrofitted to previous 330 models. An Allison (later Rolls-Royce) 250-C20W turboshaft was derated to 165 kW (220 hp), giving the 330SP excellent hot and high performance, maintaining power output to 18,000 feet.

Schweizer 333
Schweizer 333

Shortly after the release of the 330, Schweizer began work on upgrading the dynamic components of the Schweizer 330SP. Over two years later, Schweizer released a new variant, the Schweizer 333. Featuring the newly developed dynamic systems components and new-technology rotor blades with a cambered airfoil and a larger diameter rotor, the upgraded helicopter benefited from a greater max gross weight, more useful load, more speed and more hover performance; nearly a 30% increase in performance over the 330SP. Schweizer created a kit to upgrade Model 330 and 330SP aircraft.[4]

In February 2008, an improved version of the series, the S-434 was released.[5][6]

Design

The 330 used the 300C's dynamic components, a Rolls Royce 250 turboshaft engine, and a new four-seat cockpit/cabin and body and new instrumentation.

Operational history

Schweizer was purchased on August 26, 2004, by Sikorsky Aircraft. The Schweizer 300/333 models fill a gap in the Sikorsky helicopter line, which is known for its medium and heavy utility and cargo helicopters. Sikorsky has since taken advantage of Schweizer's rapid prototyping technology, originally used during development of the 333 dynamic components and the RQ-8 prototype, to develop the X-2 Technology Demonstrator.[7]

Variants
A RQ-8A Fire Scout helicopter preparing to land on the USS Nashville
330
Using the 300C dynamic components, Schweizer mounted a Rolls Royce 250-C10A engine to the airframe and developed a new four-seat cockpit/cabin and body.
330SP
improved rotor and raised skids, Rolls Royce 250-C20W engine.
333
Featuring new dynamic system components, new rotor blades, and high skids as standard equipment, the 333 has a 30% greater useful load than the 330SP.
RQ-8/MQ-8 Fire Scout
The Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout is an unmanned derivative of the Schweizer 330SP/333 helicopter, with a new fuselage, new fuel system, and UAV electronics and sensors. It also utilizes a new four-bladed rotor system based on that of the Schweizer 333. The Fire Scout is currently in development for the United States Navy's VTUAV program with cooperation from Northrop Grumman. The original RQ-8A was based on the 330SP.
Sikorsky S-434
Based on improvements developed for the MQ-8B, this is a new version of the 333, having a four-bladed main rotor.[8]

Operators
 Dominican Republic
 Saudi Arabia

Specifications (333)

Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft[3] and Technical specifications[13]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one-two pilots
  • Capacity: one-three passengers
  • Payload: 1250 lb (567 kg)
  • Length: (overall) 31 ft 2 in (9.5 m)
  • Rotor diameter: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
  • Height: 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m)
  • Empty weight: 1210 lb (549 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 2460 lb (1116 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 2550 lb (1156 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce 250-C20W turboshaft, 235 shp (175 kW); full rating: 420 shp (315 kW)

Performance

gollark: AI is simply not good enough yet. The only solution is me as supreme eternal world dictator for life.
gollark: I see.
gollark: Maybe the design was bad or maybe people messed up the execution. But a good design factors in some degree of problems in the execution side.
gollark: The existence of working ways to modify them as needed isn't guaranteed.
gollark: Yes. It's still a bad fire extinguisher regardless of how good the designers thought/claimed they were being.

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References
  1. Schweizer Aircraft 333 page Archived 2007-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Sikorsky Press Release February 23, 2009
  3. Frawley, Gerard: The International Directiory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, page 190. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7
  4. Flug Revue article on the 333 Archived 2007-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Sikorsky announces launch of Schweizer S-434TM Commercial Helicopter at Heli-Expo
  6. Heli-Expo 2008: Sikorsky launches Schweizer 434
  8. Rotorcraft Report: New Schweizer Model? The Turbine 434 Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Escuela de Helicópteros". aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  10. "Dominican Republic Schweizer-333". Demand media. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  11. Philippe Chapleau (29 November 2015). "DynCorp signe pour cinq nouvelles années de soutien au profit de l'Alat saoudienne" (in French). Ouest-France. Retrieved 2 December 2015..
  12. "Royal Saudi Land Forces". http://www.scramble.nl. 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015..
  13. Technical Data Summary, Model 333 (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-26
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