Rotorcraft in 2014

Building on the sales success of its AW139, AgustaWestland received EASA certification for the larger AW189 in February, delivering the first two aircraft to offshore operator Bristow Group.
Credit: AgustaWestland

With the April approval of a redesigned bevel gear vertical shaft for the EC225, Airbus Helicopters was able to field a permanent solution to failures that caused two Super Puma ditchings in 2012 and fleet grounding that disrupted offshore operations.
Credit: Airbus Helicopters

Sikorsky rolled out the U.S. Marine Corps’ CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter in May. Ground tests began in January 2014, but gearbox issues have pushed first flight into the first quarter of 2015.
Credit: Sikorsky Aircraft

Sikorsky won two programs in 2014 for which no other company bid: in May the U.S. Navy VXX Presidential helicopter with the S-92; and in June the U.S. Air Force Combat Rescue Helicopter, with the HH-60W.
Credit: Sikorsky Aircraft

In August, the U.S. Army selected the 280-kt. Bell V-280 Valor tiltrotor and 230-kt. Sikorsky/Boeing SB-1 Defiant rigid coaxial-rotor compound helicopter as its Joint Multi Rotor technology demonstrators, to fly in 2017.
Credit Top: Bell Helicopter
Credit Bottom: Sikorsky/Boeing

Industry newcomer Marenco Swisshelicopter’s SKYe SH09 made its belated first flight in Switzerland on Oct. 2, with production of the Honeywell HTS900-powered light turbine single planned to begin by 2016.
Credit: Marenco Swisshelicopter

The first of two industry-funded prototypes of the S-97 Raider rigid coaxial-rotor high-speed helicopter was unveiled by Sikorsky on Oct. 2, with first fight of the 220-kt. armed scout planned by year-end.
Credit: Sikorsky Aircraft

Bell returned to the five-seat light helicopter market when the Model 505 Jet Ranger X flew at Mirabel, Quebec, on Nov. 10. The JRX is the first new Bell to be powered by Turbomeca, with an Arriel 2R.
Credit: Bell Helicopter

Russian Helicopters continued its commercial push; the first improved Mi-171A2—the latest iteration of the long-running Mi-8/17—joined the new Mi-38 medium helicopter in flight testing in October.
Credit: Russian Helicopters

After a two-year delay, Airbus Helicopters delivered the first EC175 “super-medium” helicopters in December. Its first all-new design in a decade, the EC175 has been developed jointly with China.
Credit: Airbus Helicopters