Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. confirmed it is developing electric propulsion technology for helicopters under a research project dubbed Firefly, and said it will show a “demonstrator” of an electrically powered rotorcraft July 26 at the AirVenture exhibition in Oshkosh, Wis., sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association.
In April, the Fairfield County Business Journal reported on the Firefly project and its aim to produce an electric-powered helicopter. Stratford-based Sikorsky provided details of the project Monday at the Farnborough Air Show in Great Britain.
Using its Schweizer S-300 helicopter as an airframe, Sikorsky stated it replaced the propulsion system with an 200-horsepower electric motor and digital controller from U.S. Hybrid; coupled with a lithium-ion battery from Gaia. Eagle Aviation Technologies L.L.C. modified the airframe.
While the company will not attempt to fly the helicopter at the AirVenture show, first flight is anticipated later this year upon completion of ground tests and safety reviews.
“Electric propulsion ”¦ inherently simplifies the complexity of the propulsion system by reducing the quantity of moving parts, increasing reliability while reducing direct operating costs,” said Mark Miller, vice president of Sikorsky research and engineering, in a prepared statement. “With current energy storage technology, payload and endurance will fall short of typical helicopter performance. These values will grow as rapidly maturing technology is integrated on the demonstrator.”
