Sikorsky has achieved a new milestone in the S-97 Raider program, currently in the development phase. The team at Sikorsky’s Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, recently turned on the helicopter’s electrical power for the first time. “This is a big milestone for a development program,” said Sikorsky’s S-97 Raider program manager, Mark Hammond. “The aircraft comes to life when power goes on.”
The helicopter’s multifunction display, control display unit and the CDU-controlled electronic circuit breakers are now operational. The team is currently working on the acceptance test procedures for the electrical power and avionics, and expect to complete the checkout of the remaining avionics, electrical and fly-by-wire flight control systems in the next few weeks.
