The Sikorsky-Boeing SB1 Defiant helicopter has started ground runs of its unique rotor at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The Defiant has a rigid, co-axial design which increases speed and range compared to conventional helicopters with a single rotor
The Defiant is one of two helicopters being developed as part of the US Army’s Future Vertical Lift-Medium program, which aims to develop a successor for the Blackhawk and Apache helicopters
Bell’s V-280 Valor tilt-rotor helicopter is also progressing through its testing program and last week reached its nominal cruising speed of 280 knots during flight tests.
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