WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 23 (UPI) -- Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has opened an experimental assembly line for CH-53K helicopters at its Florida Assembly and Flight Operations campus.
"The production of the next generation of heavy lift helicopter prototype is under way," said Dennis Jarvi, vice president, Navy and Marine Corps Programs for Sikorsky. As we commence assembly line operations at FAFO, we are witnessing the dawn of a new age in rotorcraft development and construction.
"The CH-53K helicopter is being digitally designed and manufactured. We have created 'virtual tools' that will improve the learning process and identify and solve issues before they become costly delays in manufacturing."
The CH-53K helicopter Florida facility covers about 60,000 square feet of space, with overhead power and air dropdowns, new aircraft work stands and overhead cranes to support aircraft final assembly and rotor head/quality control assembly operations.
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The state-of-the-art facility also provides wireless data connections to operator plasma data screens. The new FAFO operation will introduce the use of digital operation sheets to aid in assembly and operate a four-position flight line to produce the new aircraft.
Five System Development and Demonstration prototype aircraft will be built at the FAFO facility, with two additional airframe test articles produced at Sikorsky's main manufacturing plant in Stratford, Conn. Once assembled, the aircraft will be delivered to the Sikorsky Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., to undergo flight testing.
Sikorsky received a $3 billion System Development and Demonstration contract in 2006 to develop a replacement for the U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E heavy lift helicopter. The new aircraft program is planned to include production of more than 200 aircraft.
The CH-53K helicopter is in the SDD phase with all of the major subcontracts awarded and valued at more than $1.1 billion.
