Sikorsky’s Project Firefly

Sikorsky has unveiled an all-electric helicopter technology demonstrator.

Gary Parsons - 29-Jul-2010

Sikorsky image

July 29: Sikorsky has unveiled its ‘Project Firefly’, an all-electric helicopter technology demonstrator.

Showcased at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture exhibition at Oshkosh's Wittman Regional Airport in Wisconsin, the Firefly technology demonstration aircraft is part of a world symposium on electric aircraft.

Chris Van Buiten, Director of Sikorsky Innovations, said “Our objectives with Project Firefly are to provide a ‘proof of principle’ concept to validate the benefits of an electrically powered rotorcraft; to develop the technologies to enable the manned flight of that technology, and to drive future development of improved, state-of-the-art ‘green’ technologies and practices.”

Based on an S-300TCM helicopter, Firefly has a high-efficiency 190-horsepower electric motor and digital controller coupled with a lithium ion energy storage system. Integrated sensors provide real-time aircraft health information to the pilot through a panel integrated interactive LCD monitor.

Mark Miller, Vice President, Sikorsky Research & Engineering said “Through the electrical conversion, propulsion efficiency of the aircraft has been increased roughly 300% from baseline. Electric propulsion also inherently simplifies the complexity of the propulsion system by reducing the quantity of moving parts, increasing reliability while reducing direct operating costs.”

First flight is anticipated later this year, upon completion of ground tests.

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