Sikorsky VH-92

The Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin VH-92 is an American helicopter under development to replace the United States Marine Corps' Marine One U.S. presidential transport fleet; it is a militarized variant of the Sikorsky S-92.

VH-92
Role Medium-lift transport/utility helicopter
National origin United States
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft / Lockheed Martin
First flight 28 July 2017[1][2]
Status Under development
Primary user United States Marine Corps
Unit cost
VH-92A: $90m ex R&D[3] (FY15)
Developed from Sikorsky S-92

Design and development

Sikorsky entered the VH-92 variant of the S-92 into the VXX competition for U.S. Presidential helicopter Marine One (replacing the Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk), but lost to the Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel.[4][5] However, the competition was restarted in 2010 due to ballooning VH-71 development costs, allowing Sikorsky to resubmit the VH-92 in April 2010.[6] By mid-2013, all other aircraft makers had dropped out of the contest, leaving only Sikorsky.[7]

On 7 May 2014, it was announced that the VH-92 had won the VXX competition to replace the aging VH-3 Sea Kings that transport the President of the United States.[8]

In May 2014, Sikorsky was awarded a US$1.24 billion contract to build a variant of the S-92 for transport of the U.S. President. Sikorsky will outfit this variant with an executive interior and military mission support systems, including triple electrical power and redundant flight controls. Six of the variant, designated VH-92A,[9] have been ordered by the U.S. Navy for delivery in 2017.[10] Production of a further 17 aircraft is planned to begin in 2020.[11][12] The total FY2015 program cost is $4.718 billion for 23 helicopters, at an average cost of $205M per aircraft.[3] In July 2016, the design passed its Critical Design Review, which clears it for production.[13]

Operational history
A developmental VH-92A helicopter conducts landing and take-off testing at the White House South Lawn in front of the Washington Monument in September 2018

On 28 July 2017, the first VH-92A performed its maiden flight at Sikorsky Aircraft's facilities in Stratford, Connecticut.[1][2]

On 22 September 2018, a VH-92 was flown to the White House for take-off and landing tests at spots used for Marine One.[14]

Variants
  • VH-92A: 21 planned[15]
  • CH-92A: 2 planned for training[15]

Operators
 United States

Specifications (S-92)

Data from Sikorsky S-92 specifications,[16] International Directory of Civil Aircraft[17]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 (pilot, co-pilot)
  • Capacity: 19 passengers
  • Length: 56 ft 2 in (17.12 m)
  • Width: 17 ft 2 in (5.23 m)
  • Height: 15 ft 5 in (4.70 m)
  • Cabin dimensions: 20 ft (6 m) long by 6 ft 8 in (2 m) tall[18]
  • Empty weight: 15,500 lb (7,031 kg)
  • Gross weight: 26,500 lb (12,020 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 27,700 lb (12,565 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × General Electric CT7-8A turboshaft engine, 2,520 shp (1,880 kW) each equivalent
  • Main rotor diameter: 56 ft 4 in (17.17 m)
  • Main rotor area: 2,492.3 sq ft (231.54 m2)
  • Blade section: - root: Sikorsky SC2110 ; tip: Sikorsky SSC-A09[19]

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 165 kn (190 mph, 306 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 151 kn (174 mph, 280 km/h)
  • Range: 539 nmi (620 mi, 998 km)
  • Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
  • Disk loading: 9.8 lb/sq ft (48 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 0.23 shp/lb (0.38 kW/kg)
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See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. "VH-92A Presidential Helicopter Achieves First Flight". Lockheed Martin. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  2. Werner, Ben (7 August 2017). "VH-92A Presidential Helo Flies For the First Time". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  3. "GAO-15-342SP DEFENSE ACQUISITIONS Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs" (PDF). US Government Accountability Office. March 2015. p. 1. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  4. "DoD Special Briefing on Award of Presidential Helicopter Contract" Archived 1 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine. DoD, 28 January 2005.
  5. Trimble, Stephen. "US101 snatches presidential prize." Archived 26 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine Flight International, 1 February 2005.
  6. Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin Announce Teaming Agreement to Compete for the VXX Presidential Helicopter Program Archived May 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Drew, Christopher. "Few Suitors to Build a New Marine One". New York Times, 29 July 2013.
  8. Majumdar, Dave (7 May 2014). "Sikorsky Wins $1.24 Billion Contract for Presidential Helo". United States Naval Institute. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  9. "Contract Awarded Presidential Helicopter". navair.navy.mil. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  10. "Sikorsky wins US presidential helicopter contract". Flight
  11. David Pierce (7 May 2014). "This is the President's new $1.2 billion helicopter". TheVerge.com. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  12. Naval Air Systems Command (May 2014). "VXX Program". navair.navy.mil. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  13. US Presidential Helo Moves to Production Phase, Christopher C. Cavas, DefenseNews.com, 25 July 2016
  14. Parsons, Dan (20 November 2018). "Check Out The New Presidential Helicopter Landing On the White House Lawn". Rotor & Wing International. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  15. USMC. "2019 Marine Corps Aviation Plan" (PDF). Retrieved 13 April 2019.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  16. Sikorsky S-92 Helicopter (Attributes tab). Sikorsky
  17. Frawley, Gerald. "Sikorsky S-92 Helibus". The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003/2004. Aerospace Publications, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
  18. , Sikorsky S-92 Multimission Brochure, p.20, Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  19. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Bibliography
  • Leoni, Ray D. (2007). Black Hawk: The Story of a World Class Helicopter. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. ISBN 978-1-56347-918-2.
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