Aviation

Sikorsky Readies the World’s Fastest Heli

Sikorsky is close to breaking the helicopter speed record with its groundbreaking X2, set to pass the 250-knot mark “” that’s 287 miles per hour “” by year’s end. That’s nearly twice as fast as the company’s famed Blackhawk, while the current speed record for any helicopter is held by the Westland Lynx at 249 mph, or about 220 knots; but whereas the Lynx only managed that speed once (way back in 1986) the X2 plans to surpass it as a matter of course, giving the lie to the widely held belief that helis simply cannot exceed 250 mph without spinning out of control.

The X2 employs a pair of coaxial rotor systems topsides, rather than the single rotor found on most helicopters. The tail rotor faces also backward, like the propeller on boat, in order to provide thrust for the aircraft; on helicopters with a single main rotor overhead, the tail rotor is oriented along the main axis of the aircraft provide lateral stability. Even with its unusual design the X2, which features fly-by-wire controls, can maintain excellent low speed handling, efficient hovering, autorotation safety, and a seamless and simple transition to high speed.

Virgin Galactic Unveils SpaceShipTwo

The initial deposit will tickle passengers out of US$20,000, but ultimately they’ll pay US$200,000 for the experience. At least they’ll get more than a flight out of it. The package encompasses three days of training, including some g-force acclimatisation and a fitness assessment. Considering some of the potential customers spend about as much time sitting down as your average television set, the last provision seems somewhat pertinent.

The journey commences with a two-hour, sub-orbital space flight, but that remains a damp firecracker compared with what happens next. A secondary launch at 50,000ft will propel SpaceShipTwo to Mach 3.3 in 30 seconds. Now that’s some serious snap, crackle and pop.

The craft will then slow considerably, settling at 68 miles above earth, allowing the novice astronauts to enjoy zero gravity and have a look at the planet they come from.

The Bear 360

World War II-era piston fighters like the famed Mustang, Bearcat and Hellcat are something of a holy grail for thrill-seeking pilots, but getting your hands on a mint condition example can be an extremely costly and time-consuming process. Sergey Yakovlev of Mother Russia’s Yakovlev Design Bureau, home of the Yak military fighters, has just come to the rescue. For a mere $190,000 he’ll kit you out with a brand new Bear 360, a two-seater with a 360-horsepower M-14P radial engine and all the pizzazz of the original.
The all-metal airframe is actually manufactured in Russia and then finished in North Dakota. The sleek low-wing craft with a bubble canopy seats two plus luggage and cruises at 288 mph for up to 1,000 miles.