Sikorsky X2

The Sikorsky X2 is a technology demonstrator helicopter developed by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation to explore the potential of coaxial rotors combined with a pusher propeller for high‑speed flight. Initiated in 2006, the program built on the company's earlier work on the S‑92 and the X‑2’s predecessor, the X‑82, and culminated in the first flight on 22 May 2008 at West Palm Beach, Florida. The X2 features a twin‑rotor system rotating in opposite directions, eliminating the need for a traditional tail rotor and dramatically reducing torque. A rear‑mounted, variable‑pitch pusher propeller supplies additional thrust, allowing the aircraft to exceed 250 knots, more than double the speed of conventional helicopters. Its advanced flight‑control system uses fly‑by‑wire electronics and active vibration suppression, providing precise handling and pilot workload reduction. The X2’s successful test program demonstrated that coaxial‑compound configurations could achieve true high‑speed performance while retaining vertical‑takeoff and landing capability. The lessons learned directly influenced the design of the Sikorsky–Boeing SB > 1, the first certified high‑speed compound helicopter, marking a pivotal step toward redefining rotorcraft operational envelopes. Continued research based on the X2 architecture is shaping next‑generation tilt‑rotor and autonomous air‑mobility concepts, ensuring its legacy endures in future aerospace innovations.