Sikorsky's UH-60M Upgrade BLACK HAWK Achieves 1st Flight

(West Palm Beach, Fla., August 29, 2008) -- Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today successfully completed the first flight of its UH-60M Upgrade BLACK HAWK helicopter. The UH-60M Upgrade is currently the only fly-by-wire rotary wing aircraft in flight test development within the Department of the Army. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

In a test flight that lasted approximately 60 minutes, Sikorsky Chief Test Pilots Mike Skaggs and Steve Silder maneuvered the aircraft through a variety of exercises including hover, forward flight, and a hover turn. The test flight was conducted at Sikorsky's West Palm Beach facility in Florida.

Sikorsky President Jeffrey P. Pino said today's milestone represents a major step forward in the company's continuing efforts to provide the U.S. military with superior technology.

"The UH-60M Upgrade will reduce pilot workload, increase lift, offer better protection and enhance survivability," said Pino. "The next generation of BLACK HAWK helicopters is ideally suited for its mission and will provide a safer, more responsive, deployable, versatile and effective weapon system for the Army."

U.S. Army Col. L. Neil Thurgood, Utility Helicopter Project Manager for the U.S. PEO Aviation office, said, "Today's first flight of the UH-60M Upgrade aircraft, with fly-by-wire technology represents the next step in providing the U.S. military the best capability to execute its mission. This aircraft contains dramatic technological advances, yet retains and improves on the proven design of the world's most capable and robust utility helicopter."

Col. Thurgood added, "The U.S. Army Utility Helicopters Project Office and Sikorsky Aircraft remain committed to the right technologies, equipment and support infrastructure to empower our most important customer, the soldier. The UH-60M Upgrade demonstrates the balance Sikorsky and the U.S. Army have applied to address both current and future needs. Today's achievement is the result of dedicated effort and hard work by the entire Upgrade Program Team."

Source : Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.

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