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The LOH helicopter was customized by employees at Sikorsky
Global Helicopters’ main facility in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. It
is a utility-configured S-92 aircraft bearing a unique gray and black
paint scheme with a silhouette of first responders depicted on each side.
The aircraft is fitted with side-facing seats, a triple littler kit, search-andrescue
Automatic Flight Control System and night-sun capabilities. At maximum of about 15,000
ft, the S-92 has a range of 890 km on a single tank-load of fuel.
Stacy Sheard, Pilot for the S-92 Legacy of Heroes
tour, said, “Since its earliest helicopters, Sikorsky
has routinely been the first to arrive on the
scene of natural disasters and other emergency,
life-threatening situations. The Legacy of Heroes
demo tour gives us the opportunity to share the
success stories of the extraordinary people who
use Sikorsky helicopters and to introduce the
aircraft capabilities and product solutions to
those who may be unfamiliar with them.”
Melissa Mathiasen, Sikorsky Test Pilot and Chief Pilot for the S-92 Legacy of Heroes
tour, added, “The LOH crew and the entire Sikorsky workforce is proud to stand behind
this aircraft as its flying ambassador to the world. It reinforces our company’s mission
statement, ‘We pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere, every time.’
That message of heroism has resonated at each of the tour stopovers across the world.”
The duo steered the chopper over the Delhi skies after getting a signal from the ATC,
post a waiting period of twenty minutes. Surprisingly it did not take off vertically as
the ATC in Delhi does not differentiate between a fixed wing and a rotary wing. It was
fun to be in a chopper which taxied on the runway and took off like an aircraft.
Jared Owens, a crew member formerly a US defence
officerstressed, “this is one of the most stable
choppers in terms of vibrations, so it makes it
far easier for use in situations where one has
to pull the wounded up without being forced to
land. This has been proved in battle situations
and sea-rescue operations.”
The Legacy of Heroes campaign was conceived to commemorate its founder, Kiev-born US
immigrant Igor Sikorsky’s ideals that the primary role of a helicopter is to save lives.
So it recognises and pays tribute to all those brave hearts that have piloted choppers
and saved lives during a humanitarian emergency. While Hollywood and our very own
Bollywood continues to generate flashy and seductive new heroes, the helicopter major
aims that the Legacy of Heroes World Tour recognizes the real heroes – ones whose
stories tell themselves. Brave children felicitated on the Republic Day were taken
for a ride on the chopper prior to the Sikorsky Legacy of Heroes Awards held in Delhi
to felicitate brave veterans and children. Three children aged 19, 14 and 13 years old
were felicitated for their exceptional display of courage in saving lives.
“The worldwide fleet of 152 S-92 helicopters
has accumulated more than 400,000 flight hours
since deliveries began in 2004. The S-92 helicopter
remains the only aircraft to have been certified
to FAA/EASA part 29 rigorous airworthiness standards
without exception or waiver,” stated Qwens.
The S-92 Legacy of Heroes tour to India has a special significance, as cabins for the
S-92 helicopter are manufactured in Hyderabad. With India serving as a global manufacturing
base for this aircraft, it is a homecoming for the helicopter,” said Air Vice Marshal
(Retired) Arvind Walia, Executive Vice President, India & South Asia, Sikorsky.
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