What do you think of the Sikorsky S-92?

[Jonathan Bailey]

This bird sports twin turbine engines for peace of mind. The FAA supposedly rated this "the safest helicopter it has ever certified". This bird can be optioned with sweet things like air-conditioning and even a privacy toilet on board. Very few production choppers have on-board lavs. And this is rather cool. Service ceiling is 14,000'. Range: 539 nmi. Cruise speed: 151 knots. Useful load? Well, can handle two German shepherds, a couple big Coleman coolers and some camping gear and two pilots to say the very least. I believe those huge wing stubs on the sides are fuel tanks and wells to hold the retractable main wheel gear.

 

A number of safety features such as flaw tolerance, bird strike capability, and engine burst containment have been incorporated into the design. Adherence to FAA FAR part 29 has led the FAA certification board to call the S-92 the "safest helicopter in the world". The S-92 reportedly met the FAR part 29 "run dry" requirement by asserting the loss of oil pressure in the main gear box is "extremely remote".

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_S-92

[adam32]

I'd rather have a S-61.

[Falko]

The cons from what I heard are: strong vibrations and it's very very loud internally

[Jonathan Bailey]

The cons from what I heard are: strong vibrations and it's very very loud internally

Here is what Sikorsky says about that:

 

The S-92’s vibration control systems and cabin

acoustic enhancements provide a smooth ride and

quiet cabin.

If I were to order one, I would want the quietest-cabin package offered.

http://www.sikorsky.com/StaticFiles/Sikorsky/Assets/Attachments/Mission%20Downloads/S-92_Multimission_Brochure.pdf

[Jonathan Bailey]

I'd rather have a S-61.

No longer produced. Was a lavatory an option in those?

[adam32]

Pretty hard to fly and poop at the same time...

[Pohi]

As a helicopter pilot, the world is your lavatory. You can land whenever you need to go to the bathroom and take care of business.

[Pohi]

Pretty hard to fly and poop at the same time...

Not really. I find its somewhat difficult to not poop when I'm flying sometimes :-)

[Jonathan Bailey]

Not really. I find its somewhat difficult to not poop when I'm flying sometimes :-)

 

Pretty hard to fly and poop at the same time...

That's what co-pilots are for. Perhaps, a pilot's passengers may need to take a dump.

[Jonathan Bailey]

 

That's what co-pilots are for. Perhaps, a pilot's passengers may need to take a dump.

But if I am going to pay $17 million for a bird, it had better have a crapper at that price.

[adam32]

All those extras equal extra weight...extra weight and mountains don't go together well..lighter the better.

[Jonathan Bailey]

All those extras equal extra weight...extra weight and mountains don't go together well..lighter the better.

The mountains of California don't exceed 14,500'. The majority of them don't exceed 10,000 feet.

 

The twin-engine S-92 has a service ceiling of 14,000 feet in Sikorsky's advertised literature. I should suspect that is fully fueled, optioned and laden.

[akscott60]

I could sling load it.

[RagMan]

I could sling load it.

 

You sir, have just won!

[Joe_P148]

Good aircraft, the engines are beast. It's service ceiling doesn't reflect how well it performs OGE at higher altitudes, which is really what you need for that mountain flying.

[Joe_P148]

Isolated but not impossible.

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cougar_Helicopters_Flight_91