Defiant reaches new speed milestone but test progress questioned
An experimental SB>1 Defiant X2 coaxial test aircraft has successfully recorded a speed of 205kt, Boeing and Sikorsky have revealed.
The flight at Sikorsky’s West Palm Beach facility took place on 9 June as part of the US Army’s JMR-TD programme and involved the new milestone being achieved, despite less than 50% of the helicopter’s propeller power being used.
Sikorsky and Boeing have been given an additional year to file their JMR-TD final report, now due before the end of September 2020. They are also under contract with the army for FLRAA’s parallel competitive demonstration and risk reduction phase, which
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