Filling the role of medium lift transport helicopter and filling the niche between the utilitarian Ares Traveller tilt-rotor series and the luxury August-Cierva Plutocraft, the Sikorsky S-92D Helibus is perfect for those intercity jaunts and corporate outings. Speed, comfort, and flexibility characterize this latest offering from the venerable helicopter firm; the S-92D is the fastest and quietest ride in its class. The company attributes this performance to the new swept blade tipcaps, borrowed from its work on the Seahawk/Blackhawk line, and modified for the heavier blade chord required in a transport helicopter.
The smooth lines of the fuselage are mirrored on the inside, with a comfortable, ergonomic layout that has four folding bench seats in the rear, two to a side, and a row of two and one bucket seats in the main cabin. Facilities for passengers as well as a small galley area are located forward, beneath the main rotor shaft, minimizing the effect of their weight on the aircraft's overall CG. The cockpit, separated from the main passenger cabin by a hatch and narrow passageway, is arranged in the standard side by side setup. The onboard avionics suite is based upon the popular Honeywell Epic II, featuring four flat panel customizable LCD displays backed up by direct read engine and airspeed instruments. The Epic II ties in all communications and navigation capabilities as well, including VHF, UHF, remote digital, TACAN, GPS, and doppler navigation radar system. Also standard is the new EaglEye traffic avoidance system. Aircraft systems management is the responsibility of Sikorsky's tried and true Sovereign software package, which ties together all engine and system readouts into a single, easy to read LCD display screen.
Despite its recent introduction, Sikorsky announced that the S-92D has become a mainstay of its commercial aviation branch, with over fifty sold and another twenty two on order.
| Handling | Speed | Accel | Body | Armour | Sig |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/5 | 200 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Autonav | Pilot | Sensor | Cargo | Load | |
| 4 | -- | 3 | 80 | 887 | |
| Seating | 2b + 4B (f) + 19b | Setup/Breakdown | N/A | ||
| Entry | 2 + 2d | Landing/Takeoff | VTOL | ||
| Fuel | Turbine ( 2000 liters ) | Economy | 0.3 km/liter | ||
| DP Cost | 4778 | Cost | 1194500 ¥ | ||
| Template | Cargo Helicopter | Reference | The Shop | ||
| Features |
Advanced Passenger Protection Systems (Seats 21) Autonav (Level 4) Bench Seats (Folding) (Level 3) Bucket Seats (Level 11) Concealed Armour (Armour 3) Contingency Maneuver Controls (Rating 3) Datajack port ( 0) Handling Improvement (Level 1) Improved Economy (Level 10) Increase Fuel Tank Capacity (Level 100) Increased Cargo Space (CF 313) Load Increase (Level 303) Living Amenities (Improved) (People 2) Rigger Adaptation ( 0) Secondary Controls ( 0) Sensors (Level 2) Speed Increase (Level 80) |
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