Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
    • A-E
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
    • F-L
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
    • M-S
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
    • T-Z
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    • March 2025
    • Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    • Showcase 2025
    • September 2024
    • June 2024
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Subscribe to magazine Subscribe to email newsletter Media Pack
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    1. March 2025
    2. Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    3. Showcase 2025
    4. September 2024
    5. June 2024
    6. March 2024
    7. Archive Issues
    8. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    19th March 2025

    In this issue: March 2025

    Online Magazines By Ben Sampson
    Recent

    In this issue: March 2025

    19th March 2025
    contents and front cover of magazine

    In this issue: December / January 2025

    19th December 2024
    Showcase 2025

    In this issue – Showcase 2025

    6th November 2024
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
Helicopters & Rotorcraft

Sikorsky wins award for stormy cyclone marine helicopter tests

Ben SampsonBy Ben Sampson21st May 20183 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

The CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter being tested under high sea conditions (Image: Sikorsky)

The American Helicopter Society (AHS International) has recognized the “extraordinary international effort” involved in a 10-year flight test program performed by Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) and Sikorsky with an award.

The CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter’s 2,800-hour test campaign has included demonstration flights and the testing of shipboard operation from a Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate in rough seas.

The award cites the successful expansion of the flight envelope to Sea State 6 conditions, where waves reached a height of 20ft (6m) with winds up to 55kts (100 km/h).

The Leonardo International Fellowship Award was presented on May 16, 2018, to representatives from the Canadian Maritime Helicopter Project (CMHP) Combined Test Force at AHS International’s annual forum. The award recognizes significant contributions to international vertical flight cooperation.

William Falk, Sikorsky CMHP director, said, “The combined industry and government flight test team collaborated fully to demonstrate the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter’s anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions during some of the roughest winter weather imaginable.

“Successful demonstration of strict ship/helicopter capability is required before the Canadian government can deploy this helicopter weapon system.”

The CMHP Combined Test Force sailed five times into the waters off Nova Scotia from 2010-2017 during late December to early March when the weather conditions produced the necessary wave heights and winds.

In total, the team flew 270 hours and performed approximately 975 landings on the flight decks of the HMCS Montréal and HMCS Halifax.

Key features of the Cyclone have been tested, including a retractable probe on its belly, which is used to securely cinch the 29,300 lb aircraft to the ship’s flight deck in high sea states. Another feature successfully demonstrated is the ground support tool with an articulating arm that allows the deck crew to remotely align the aircraft’s nose prior to guiding the helicopter into the hangar.

A combined DND/Sikorsky aircrew also demonstrated the aircraft’s full authority fly-by-wire flight controls, which can hold the aircraft in a precise hover during high wind states.

Other tests included main rotor blade and tail pylon fold, hover-in-flight refuel, maintenance operations, torpedo loading and ship-to-ship replenishment. These operations also were demonstrated at night with and without night vision goggles.

The flight test program is expected to conclude in early 2019. The Royal Canadian Air Force will take delivery of the last of its 28 Sikorsky-designed and built CH-148 Cyclone aircraft by 2021 to replace the CH-124 Sea King helicopter fleet, which retires this year.

May 21, 2018

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleResearchers develop VR tests for autonomous drones
Next Article US Air Force sets new world record with jet engine test
Ben Sampson

Ben has worked as a journalist and editor, covering technology, engineering and industry for the last 20 years. Initially writing about subjects from nuclear submarines to autonomous cars to future design and manufacturing technologies, he was editor of a leading UK-based engineering magazine before becoming editor of Aerospace Testing in 2017.

Related Posts

The Bell 525 Helicopter
Flight Testing

Bell 525 helicopter operational test flight program announced for Guyana

11th March 20252 Mins Read
Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter
Defense

Sikorsky starts ground testing new Black Hawk engines

5th February 20252 Mins Read
TriFan 600 images
Drones & Air Taxis

XTI Aerospace presents TriFan 600 VTOL to FAA

11th December 20242 Mins Read
Latest Posts

Drive System Design opens second UK high-speed eMachine test facility

23rd May 2025

dSPACE expands Scalexio platform for HIL testing

23rd May 2025

AIR cargo eVTOL completes night flight testing

22nd May 2025
Supplier Spotlights
Our Social Channels
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Subscribe To Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Media Pack
Related Topics
  • Aircraft Interiors
  • Business Jet Interiors
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Wednesday

© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.