Sikorsky Aircraft Crew Station Technology Research Helicopter

Sikorsky Aircraft has developed a new research helicopter dedicated to the study of crew station technology. A high visibility single seat cockpit has been added to an S-76 airframe just forward of the existing cockpit. The new cockpit is linked to the aircraft systems via a variable stability fly-by-wire flight control system and is equipped with various display media, including touch sensitive CRTs, a voice interactive system, head-up display, and a visually-coupled wide field of view helmet-mounted display system. The aircraft can be operated autonomously from the new crew station, with an independent safety pilot position retained at the original right pilot station. This aircraft will permit the evaluation of advanced control and display concepts in the agile S-76 air vehicle under a full range of flight conditions.