Sikorsky Firefly (technology demonstrator) (defunct)

Firefly (technology demonstrator) (defunct)
Sikorsky
Stratford, Connecticut, USA
www.sikorsky.com

Founded on March 5, 1923, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Stratford, Connecticut, USA. Sikorsky was established by aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky and was among the first companies in the world to manufacture helicopters for civilian and military use. United Technologies Corporation purchased Sikorsky in 1929 and then in November 2015, Sikorsky was sold to Lockheed Martin. (Image credit: Sikorsky)

NOTE: If anyone has a clear picture of Sikorsky's Firefly information banner that was used at prior air shows and trade shows, will you please email news@evtol.news with your picture and would you allow us to post your picture on this web page? Thank you.

Sikorsky one passenger electric helicopter technology demonstrator (defunct)
The Sikorsky Firefly is a modified Schweizer S-300C all-electric helicopter that was announced on July 26, 2010 at AirVenture 2010 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. The Firefly was a technology demonstrator that was used as a stepping stone to successfully make electric helicopters. Sikorsky had been working on the project for more than two years and has never revealed the cost of the project. The electric helicopter was never flown.

There are 300 battery cells, installed in two battery packs (150 cells in each battery pack) located on each side of the helicopter, weighing 1,170 pounds (530 kg) and were manufactured by Gaia Power Technologies based in Germany. U.S. Hybrid, with several offices in the USA, modified a land vehicle's electric motor and built a 190 hp (142 kW) electric motor custom-made for the helicopter. The modifications of the electric motor included adding an additional 40 horsepower to the motor, ultimately providing a consistent 3,200 RPM. To cool the electric motor, Sikorsky used forced air cooling instead of water cooling. Engineers at Eagle Aviation Technologies, based in Virginia, USA, modified the airframe and motor mount, then installed the motor and digital controller for the helicopter.

The Sikorsky testbed figures showed huge improvements in efficiency. The main rotor output is 76.3% efficient in the electric version versus 25.5% for a Sikorsky 76-D luxury helicopter running two Pratt & Whitney PW210S turboshaft engines on JetA fuel. The other notable comparison is heat loss, where the electrical system loses just 15% compared to 73.4% on the luxury passenger Sikorsky 76-D twin-engine (turbine engines) helicopter. The company used software to slow the electric engine, to mimic a gas-powered engine to help the pilot and the rotor's bearings, apparently on start-up, during flight and shut-down.

Sikorsky also noted that this electrically powered helicopter simplifies the complexity of the propulsion system by reducing the quantity of moving parts, reduces heat loss, increases reliability, reduces noise inside and outside the helicopter, reduces vibration, has no emissions and reduces direct operating costs. Sikorsky estimated that with one pilot only, it could fly for 12 to 15 minutes at a top speed of 92 mph (148 km/h). If the batteries lost their power, the helicopter could still autorotate and the helicopter pilot could safely land the rotorcraft in any open space.

The Sikorsky Firefly has been called the world's "first all-electric helicopter" but again, was never flown. However, a French-based company flew the world's first all electric helicopter named Solution F with a crewed tethered flight on August 4, 2011. The first crewed untethered hover flight for the Solution F helicopter was made on August 12, 2011. In 2017, Sikorsky has been involved in the early development of a rotorcraft referred to as the VERT. In 2023, Sikorsky announced the program for its Hybrid-Electric Demonstrator (HEX) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM).

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Electric helicopter demonstrator
• Piloting: 1 pilot, no passengers
• Maximum speed: 92 mph (148 km/h)
• Maximum flight time: 15 minutes
• Maximum takeoff weight: 2,050 lb (930 kg)
• Propellers: 3-bladed rotorblade
• Electric motors: 1 electric motor
• Maximum horsepower: 190 hp (141.6 kW)
• Power source: 2 lithium ion batteries, 370 volts, battery weight: 1,170 lb (530 kg)
• Fuselage: Aircraft aluminum alloy
• Windows: Helicopter bubble-type canopy
• Tail: 1 tail rotor
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• Safety features: In case of loss of a power or motor failure, the Firefly can autorotate and land to safety.

Related Aircraft:

• Sikorsky Firefly (technology demonstrator) (defunct)
• Sikorsky HEX 2-Rotor Tiltwing (technology demonstrator)
• Sikorsky HEX 4-Rotor Tiltwing (concept design)
• Sikorsky HEX Helicopter (concept design)
• Sikorsky VERT (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• MarketWatch
• Pitchbook
• Tracxn

Resources:

• Sikorsky Firefly Wikipedia
• Sikorsky website
• Sikorsky Facebook
• Sikorsky Twitter
• Sikorsky YouTube Channel
• Lockheed Martin Instagram
• Sikorsky Instagram (Archived account, the last post was in 2016.)
• Lockheed Martin LinkedIn
• Sikorsky LinkedIn
• Sikorsky Innovations web page
• Press Release: Sikorsky Introduces “Project Firefly” Electric Helicopter Demonstrator, Sikorsky, Jul. 19, 2010
• Article: Sikorsky rolls out first all-electric helicopter, Connecticut Post, Jul. 25, 2010
• Video: Sikorsky Firefly: An Electric Helicopter, AVweb, Jul. 28, 2010
• Article: Sikorsky Introduces ‘Project Firefly’ Electric Helicopter Demonstrator, Vertical Magazine, Jul. 29, 2010
• Article: Project Firefly: Sikorsky unveils electric helicopter technology demonstrator, New Atlas, Aug. 10, 2010
• Article: An All-Electric Helicopter: How Far Will It Fly, Greentech Media, Aug. 20, 2010
• Article: Project Firefly: Sikorsky Starts Small With Electric-Powered Helicopter, Hartford Courant, Jan. 31, 2011
• Article: Electric Firefly will feel like a conventional S-300C, says Sikorsky, AIN Online, Mar. 6, 2011