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This paper describes an assessment of a novel flight instrument display in a UH-60 helicopter flight simulator. Sixteen male aviators flew a simulated instrument flight profile and recovered from unusual attitudes using the standard flight instruments and the novel display.

Although the T700-GE-700 turboshaft engine on the Black Hawk UH-60 utility helicopter is equipped with an inertial particle separator inlet air protection system to protect the engine from sand/dust erosion, no such protection has been provided for the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU).

The system was developed using extensive piloted simulation and then implemented in a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter for flight development and evaluation. A close correlation between simulation and actual flight was found; however, in flight overall pilot workload increased and performance decreased.

The eMCV employs the roadgoing vehicle’s electric propulsion system and chassis, with some modifications.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation designed a new advanced technology composite main rotor blade for a growth BLACK HAWK helicopter, now designated the UH-60M. The UH-60M main rotor blade has new airfoils, a larger blade chord, and a swept, tapered, anhedral tip, with a rotor ice protection system (RIPS) similar to that of the UH-60A/L helicopter. The UH-60A/L RIPS control system was retained and the new blades were fitted with heater elements similar in geometry to those of the UH-60A/L main rotor blades, but with the outboard extent of the heater mat 10 inches more inboard than that of the UH-60A/L and the woven wire heater resistance was changed to maintain the same power density as the UH-60A/L. Analyses and S-92A® helicopter artificial and natural icing flight test data show that the increased blade chord, improved airfoils, and advanced blade geometry result a minimal change in BLACK HAWK icing flight characteristics.

Weaving a new future for composites Chris Oberste

An updated version of GE Aviation’s T901-GE-900 turboprop engine used in the AH-64 Apache attack and UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters successfully completed the preliminary design review for the U.S.

Sikorsky tested a new full-authority, fly-by-wire flight control technology kit for the first time on a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk medium-lift utility helicopter. The flight marked the beginning of the flight test program for the soon-to-be optionally piloted rotorcraft.

US Army officials and engineers continue work to modernize the defense organization’s fleet of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with a more modern digital cockpit, conducting a Limited User Test with two prototype aircraft at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

Unitech Composites, a Unitech Aerospace company in Hayden, Idaho, is providing its Lightweight Armament Support Structure (LASS) composite weapons pylons to maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company Science and Engineering Services (SES) in Columbia, Md., for use on Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters the U.S. Army is supplying to the government of Afghanistan through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

This paper summarizes the results of a 3 year research program to advance the state-of-the-art in helicopter free-wheel units (overrunning clutches) by permitting operation at 20,000 rpm. By designing the free-wheel unit to operate at engine input speed instead of at the speed of the 2nd reduction where it is usually located, the torque, and hence size and weight of the unit, will be reduced. High-speed designs, test results, and application of the designs to the UH-60A BLACK HAWK are presented for spring, sprag, and ramp roller types of overrunning clutches.

The value of helicopter-augmented air cargo has been demonstrated and greater exploitation of its opportunities has awaited only the emergence of a low-cost, reliable cargo helicopter. One such aircraft is the Sikorsky S-70C, a close derivative of the U.S. Army UH-60A Black Hawk utility transport helicopter, recently certificated by the U.S. FAA for cargo transport and related missions. The use of such advanced helicopters to augment fixed-wing priority express service between major cities is shown to offer substantial time savings, and corresponding improvements in a forwarder's market share, at a disproportionately small increase in total cost.

A new flight research vehicle, the Rotorcraft-Aircrew Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory (RASCAL), is being developed by the U.S. Army and NASA at Ames Research Center. The requirements for this new facility stem from a perception of rotorcraft system technology requirements for the next decade together with operational experience with the Boeing Vertol CH-47B research helicopter that was operated as an in-flight simulator at Ames during the past 10 years. Accordingly, both the principal design features of the CH-47B variable-stability system and the flight-control and cockpit-display programs that were conducted using this aircraft at Ames are reviewed. Another U.S. Army helicopter, a Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk, has been selected as the baseline vehicle for the RASCAL. The research programs that influence the design of the RASCAL are summarized, and the resultant requirements for the RASCAL research system are described.

Modern rotorcraft must have the capability to operate in all-weather conditions. Sikorsky Aircraft has conducted icing research and ice protection system development for helicopters over the past 58 years and the pace of that work has accelerated during the past two decades. Sikorsky participated in several helicopter icing flight tests, conducted wind tunnel tests of scale models and full-scale components, tested simulated ice shapes, and developed analytical tools for use in the design, certification, and qualification for flight in icing conditions. Engine inlets, airspeed systems, main rotor droop stops, and windshields are generally protected by thermal anti-icing systems. When rotor ice protection is required, rotors are protected with electrothermal deice systems. The UH-60A BLACK HAWK electrothermal rotor ice protection system, developed in the late 1970s, has been installed in 2400 H-60 helicopters and it remains one of the most effective rotor ice protection systems.

Ruggedizing Commercial-Grade Computers into MIL-Hardened Systems An Introduction to PCM Heat Sinks Eye Tracking Technology Improving the Skills Gap, Efficiency, and Quality Assurance in Aerospace Manufacturing Streamlining EMC Solutions for Avionics Interfaces Hardware Design of a High Dynamic Range Radio Frequency (RF) Harmonic Measurement System. Using RISC-V to Simplify Data Logging in Space Novel Characterization Methods for Anisotropic and Mixed-Conduction Materials Seven new characterization methods have been developed for the specialized materials used in state-of-the-art electronic and optoelectronic devices. Circuit Models for Robust, Adaptive Neural Control Understanding a nematode's simple circuit could provide a foundation for understanding much more complex behaviors.

Automation leads advances in aerospace composites usage Increased productivity is the focus of today's automation for composites made of carbon-fiber reinforced plastics.

Carnegie Mellon University and Sikorsky recently participated in a joint autonomy demo that proved the capability of new, ground-air cooperative missions, using a UH-60MU Black Hawk helicopter enabled with Sikorsky's MATRIX autonomy kit and CMU’s Land Tamer unmanned ground vehicle.

Next-generation military propulsion Design concepts for future strike aircraft, transport, and UAVs.

CAM's converging byways "Art to part" is an ancient catchphrase. But it's taking on new dimensions with advances in machine controllers, inter-machine communications, and design approaches.

Automation usage soars in aerospace Robots and other automated equipment are becoming simpler to program and set up, making them better suited for aerospace use.