Sikorsky says its X2 technology demonstrator unofficially broke the world speed record for helicopters on July 26 when it reached 225kt (417km/h) during a one hour flight.
The speed beats the official record of 216kt recorded by a Westland Lynx in 1986, but will not be recognised as an official record until witnessed by an observer from the National Aeronautic Association.
Sikorsky test pilot Kevin Bredenbeck says he feels the aircraft “still has a lot of power” and hopes to take the X2, which uses a compound coaxial rotor system with a pusher tail propeller, to 250kt later in the test program.
