Sikorsky S-67 Blackhawk Tours East Coast

November 7, 1971November 26, 2019 admin flight test Flight Test News, FTN, November 1971, SFTE, Society of Flight Test Engineers

This article first appeared in the November 1971 Flight Test News.

The Sikorsky S-67 “BLACKHAWK” has been demonstrated by company pilots to several East Coast installations. The S-67 is a conventional twin-turbine helicopter using off-the-shelf components installed on a low profile gunship fuselage. Sikorsky predicts the following performance:
Dive …………200 KTS
Dash …… 173 KTS (Clean)
168 KTS (with Armament)
Cruise ………170 KTS (Clean)
163 KTS (with Armament)
Best R/C …..2,500 FPM
Medium Endurance Combat Mission GW 18,500 lbs
Hover Ceiling (IGE) 90° F, 18,500 lbs …4,700 ft.

The S-67 is a derivation of the H-3, but with reduced profile drag, reduced blade stress and vibration through blade twist change, and swept blade tips. The rotor head fairing reduces parasite drag and the engine inlet design reduces drag at high speed. The aircraft also features speed brakes which allow a 38% steeper dive angle.

This article first appeared in the November 1971 Flight Test News.