Magnetics Business & Technology - November/December 2024 - 4

EDITOR'S CHOICE
Sikorsky Looks to Future Family of VTOL Aircraft
Volume 23, Issue 6
Editor & Publisher
David Webster
Contributing Editor
Dr. Stan Trout
Director of Operations and
Support Services
Ross Webster
Director of Sales and Content
Scott Webster
Autonomy and electrification employing powerful new permanent-magnet motors will be
foundational technologies for Sikorsky next generation VTOL aircraft.
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, recently unveiled its plan to build, test and fly a
hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing demonstrator (HEX / VTOL) with a tilt-wing
configuration. The design is the first in a series of large, next generation VTOL aircraft that
range from more traditional helicopters to winged configurations. They will feature varying
degrees of electrification and an advanced autonomy system for optionally piloted flight.
" We never stop innovating at Sikorsky, " said Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo. " Autonomy
and electrification will bring transformational change to flight safety and operational efficiency
of large VTOL aircraft. Our HEX demonstrator program will provide valuable insights as
we look to a future family of aircraft built to the scale and preferred configurations relevant
to commercial and military customers. "
The HEX program
will put a premium on
greater than 500 nautical
mile range at high
speed, fewer mechanical
systems to reduce
complexity, and lower
maintenance costs.
Sikorsky Innovations,
the company's prototyping
group, and GE
Aerospace are finalizing
designs to build
a hybrid-electric power
systems testbed with a 600kW electric motor. The testbed is a first step to evaluate hover
performance of the follow-on HEX demonstrator - a 9,000-pound maximum gross weight
aircraft with 1.2MW-class turbogenerator and associated power electronics.
" Within Sikorsky's electric pillar, we are designing electric motors, power electronics and
our own vehicle management hardware and actuation, " said Igor Cherepinsky, director of
Sikorsky Innovations. " HEX will integrate these components, showcase the growing maturity
of our MATRIX autonomy suite, and the potential for maintenance-free systems. Seeing
the results will lead us to more efficient overall designs. " The demonstrator will be equipped
with permanent magnet, triplex redundant motors rated at 500+ kW.
Sikorsky Innovations was formed in 2010 to overcome technological challenges to rotary
wing speed, autonomy, and intelligence. For more info, see www.lockheedmartin.com.
4 Magnetics Business & Technology * November/December 2024
© Copyright 2024 Webcom Communications
Corp. Material in this publication may not be
reproduced in any form without written permission.
Requests for permission should be
directed to the customer service manager.
Webcom Communications Corp.
501 South Cherry Street, 11th Floor,
Denver, CO 80246 Phone 720-528-3770
www.MagneticsMag.com
Design & Layout
Scott Webster
Administration
Marsha Grillo
Magnetics Business & Technology (ISSN
#1535-1998) is a publication of Webcom
Communications Corp.
Subscriptions to the print magazine are $78
for 1-year in USA and Canada, $112 for
1-year in other countries. A 3-year subscription
is available for $176 in USA and Canada,
$250 in other countries. The order form
is available online at www.MagneticsMag.
com/subscription/. Subscription to the digital
edition is free. See www.MagneticsMag.
com/free-subscription/.
Reprints: For reprint requests contact Webcom
Communications at 720-528-3770.
Celebrating 23 Years of Magnetics Magazine!
www.MagneticsMag.com

http://www.MagneticsMag.com/subscription http://www.MagneticsMag.com/subscription http://www.MagneticsMag.com/free-subscription http://www.MagneticsMag.com/free-subscription http://www.MagneticsMag.com http://www.lockheedmartin.com http://www.MagneticsMag.com

Magnetics Business & Technology - November/December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Magnetics Business & Technology - November/December 2024