Envelope Expansion Continues as Sikorsky X2 TechnologyTM Demonstrator Flies Faster than the Average Helicopter

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida - Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.’s X2 TechnologyTM demonstrator achieved a speed of 181 knots in a test flight today at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

The X2 Technology demonstrator combines an integrated suite of technologies intended to advance the state-of-the-art, counter-rotating coaxial rotor helicopter. It is designed to demonstrate that a helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250 knots while retaining such desirable attributes as excellent low-speed handling, efficient hovering, and a seamless and simple transition to high speed.

"The X2 Technology demonstrator today exceeded average helicopter speeds of a conventional helicopter, generally 160-170 knots,” said Jim Kagdis, Program Manager, Sikorsky Advanced Programs. “The demonstrator is proving out the technologies very well, from the active vibration control system to the fly-by-wire controls. There are no show stoppers here so far, and now the program turns a corner, as this completes phase three of four. We are flying forward to the 250-knot cruise speed.”

The X2 Technology program began in 2005 when Sikorsky first committed resources and full funding for the program’s development.

“For potential customers, this milestone is exciting news and a solid signal that these technologies are true and executable, performing the way we expected they would,” said Mark Miller, Sikorsky Vice President of Research & Engineering. “As the X2 Technology demonstrator prepares to write a new page in aviation history later this year, we will continue the conversation with our customers and look forward to mapping out future applications that will meet customer needs.”

Among the innovative technologies the X2 Technology demonstrator employs are:

• Fly-by-wire flight controls
• Counter-rotating rigid rotor blades
• Hub drag reduction
• Active vibration control
• Integrated auxiliary propulsion system

Sikorsky Press Release

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Airbus delivers the 30th A380

The 30th A380 to be delivered was handed over today to Emirates Airline, one of the launch customers of the Airbus double-decker aircraft. This is the tenth A380 Emirates has received out of its total firm order for 58 aircraft.

This aircraft will be on display at the ILA Berlin Air Show which is taking place from June 8th to 13th. Lufthansa will also bring their recently delivered, first A380 to the show and from June 11th an Airbus flight test A380 will be on static and flying display.

Airbus has already delivered seven A380s so far in 2010, three to Emirates Airline, two to Air France, one to Lufthansa and one to Qantas. Airbus is on track to deliver a total of at least 20 A380s in 2010.

Today five major airlines, Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airline, Qantas, Air France and Lufthansa, operate 30 A380s on 20 routes linking 18 major international destinations. Together they have carried nearly five and a half million passengers on 15,000 revenue flights and have clocked up almost 140,000 revenue flight hours. These A380 flights have saved 640,000t of CO2 emissions by replacing journeys that would otherwise have been made with less fuel-efficient large aircraft. The A380 has the lowest fuel burn of any wide body aircraft, needing less than three litres of fuel per passenger per 100km.

. The A380 is also a proven profit generator. Delivering an impressive double-digit percentage reduction in cash operating costs, it allows airlines to either increase the number of seats offered at little or no extra cost or keep the same capacity at a much lower total cost. This is one of the reasons why seven of the 17 A380 customers have already placed repeat orders and over half the world’s top international carriers have ordered it.

Airbus has received 202 firm orders for the A380 from 17 customers.

EADS Press Release

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