Sikorsky S-52-3 | Credit: Jon R. Stark; Wikipedia; CC BY-SA 4.0
Aviation International News reports that “Florida-based kit helicopter maker Vertical Aviation Technologies (VAT) is seeking a strategic partner to produce an updated, certified version of the Sikorsky S-52.” VAT has built an “experimental kit version derived from that aircraft under the name Hummingbird since 1991 after acquiring the engineering data, flight-test data, and drawings from Sikorsky in 1987.” The new, certified version of the helicopter “will be known as the Hummingbird S-52L, which VAT said ‘has been redesigned with modifications, new technology, new materials, and processes, notably in terms of safety and performance.’” VAT recently acquired the type certificate for the S-52 and plans to “amend it with the new modifications and technology.” VAT President Brad Clark said that the “company has already conducted extensive pre-certification testing of the updated design.” Clark said, “We are seeking a strategic partner who shares our vision and can provide the needed capital.” Full Story (Aviation International News)
