Schweizer S333

Last updated
Schweizer 330 / S333
S.333 D-HSPC.jpg
Schweizer 333 on the apron
General information
TypeLight utility and trainer helicopter
Manufacturer Schweizer Aircraft Corporation
Sikorsky Aircraft
StatusActive In production
Primary users Dominican Air Force
History
Manufactured1988–present
Introduction date1992
First flightJune 14, 1988
Developed from Schweizer S300
Developed into MQ-8 Fire Scout
Sikorsky S-434

The Schweizer 330 and S333 are turbine-powered developments of the Schweizer 300 light piston-powered helicopter. As of 2007, only the Schweizer 333 remains in production. [1] In February 2009, the 333 was rebranded as the Sikorsky S-333. [2] In 2018 the Schweizer R.S.G. bought the Schweizer Aircraft from Sikorsky Aircraft and it was rebranded as Schweizer S333 again. [3]

Contents

Development

Schweizer 330

In 1987, Schweizer announced development of the Schweizer 330 using the dynamic components, rotors, controls and systems of the 300C; however, it was redesigned with an all-new fuselage. [4] The first 330, converted from a 300C and powered by an Allison 250-C10A, flew on June 14, 1988. The FAA certified the aircraft in September 1992.

The improved 330SP was introduced in May 1997 and featured an improved rotor and raised skids, which could be retrofitted to previous 330 models. An Allison (later Rolls-Royce) 250-C20W turboshaft was derated to 165 kW (220 hp), giving the 330SP excellent hot and high performance, maintaining power output to 18,000 feet.[ citation needed ]

Schweizer 333

Schweizer 333 Schweizer333.jpg
Schweizer 333

Shortly after the release of the 330, Schweizer began work on upgrading the dynamic components of the Schweizer 330SP. Over two years later, Schweizer released a new variant, the Schweizer 333. Featuring the newly developed dynamic systems components and new-technology rotor blades with a cambered airfoil and a larger diameter rotor, the upgraded helicopter benefited from a greater max gross weight, more useful load, more speed and more hover performance; nearly a 30% increase in performance over the 330SP. Schweizer created a kit to upgrade Model 330 and 330SP aircraft. [5]

In February 2008, an improved version of the series, the S-434 was released. [6] [7]

Design

The 330 used the 300C's dynamic components, a Rolls-Royce 250 turboshaft engine, and a new four-seat cockpit/cabin and body and new instrumentation.

Operational history

Schweizer was purchased on August 26, 2004, by Sikorsky Aircraft. The Schweizer 300/333 models fill a gap in the Sikorsky helicopter line, which is known for its medium and heavy utility and cargo helicopters. Sikorsky has since taken advantage of Schweizer's rapid prototyping technology, originally used during development of the 333 dynamic components and the RQ-8 prototype, to develop the X-2 Technology Demonstrator. [8]

Variants

A RQ-8A Fire Scout helicopter preparing to land on the USS Nashville Fire Scout unmanned helicopter crop.jpg
A RQ-8A Fire Scout helicopter preparing to land on the USS Nashville
330
Using the 300C dynamic components, Schweizer mounted a Rolls-Royce 250-C10A engine to the airframe and developed a new four-seat cockpit/cabin and body.
330SP
improved rotor and raised skids, Rolls-Royce 250-C20W engine.
333
Featuring new dynamic system components, new rotor blades, and high skids as standard equipment, the 333 has a 30% greater useful load than the 330SP.
RQ-8/MQ-8 Fire Scout
The Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout is an unmanned derivative of the Schweizer 330SP/333 helicopter, with a new fuselage, new fuel system, and UAV electronics and sensors. It also utilizes a new four-bladed rotor system based on that of the Schweizer 333. The Fire Scout is currently in development for the United States Navy's VTUAV program with cooperation from Northrop Grumman. The original RQ-8A was based on the 330SP.
Sikorsky S-434
Based on improvements developed for the MQ-8B, this is a new version of the 333, having a four-bladed main rotor. [9]

Operators

Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia

Non-state operators

Specifications (333)

Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft [4] and Technical specifications [17]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-76</span> American medium-size commercial utility helicopter

The Sikorsky S-76 is a medium-size commercial utility helicopter designed and produced by the American helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft. It is the company's first helicopter specifically developed for the civilian market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell Eagle Eye</span> 1990s American tiltrotor UAV

The Bell Helicopter Eagle Eye, Model 918, was an American tiltrotor unmanned aerial vehicle that was offered as one of the competitors in the United States Navy's VT-UAV program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schweizer Aircraft</span> American aircraft manufacturer

The Schweizer Aircraft Corporation was an American manufacturer of sailplanes, agricultural aircraft and helicopters located in Horseheads, New York. It was incorporated in 1939 by three Schweizer brothers, who built their first glider, the SGP 1-1, in 1930. Previously the oldest privately owned aircraft company in the United States, Schweizer was acquired by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of Stratford, Connecticut in 2004, and became a diversified aerospace company. Schweizer Aircraft ceased operations in 2012. It was sold to Schweizer RSG in 2018 and production lines were opened in Fort Worth, Texas. The company was producing two helicopter models in 2021. The 300C and 300CBI

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PZL SW-4 Puszczyk</span> Polish light utility helicopter

The PZL SW-4 Puszczyk is a Polish light single-engine multipurpose helicopter manufactured by PZL-Świdnik. Following a protracted development, the SW-4 entered service in 2002, the primary operator of the type has been the Polish Armed Forces. The SW-4 was further developed by PZL-Świdnik and corporate parent AgustaWestland into an optionally piloted vehicle, the SW-4 Solo. From 2016 onwards, the type has been marketed to civil operators as the AW009, while the SW-4 designation is used for the military market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell 407</span> Civil 7-seat utility helicopter

The Bell 407 is a four-blade, single-engine, civil utility helicopter. A derivative of the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger, the 407 uses the four-blade, soft-in-plane design rotor with composite hub developed for the United States Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior instead of the two-blade, semi-rigid, teetering rotor of the 206L-4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-67 Blackhawk</span> Prototype attack helicopter

The Sikorsky S-67 Blackhawk was a private-venture, prototype attack helicopter built in 1970 with Sikorsky Aircraft research and development (R&D) funds. A tandem, two-seat aircraft designed around the dynamic drive and rotor systems of the Sikorsky S-61, it was designed to serve as an attack helicopter or to transport up to eight troops into combat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolls-Royce AE 3007</span> Turbofan aircraft engine family

The Rolls-Royce AE 3007 is a turbofan engine produced by Rolls-Royce North America, sharing a common core with the Rolls-Royce T406 and AE 2100. The engine was originally developed by the Allison Engine Company, hence the "AE" in the model number.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allison T56</span> American-built military turboprop (1954–)

The Allison T56 is an American single-shaft, modular design military turboprop with a 14-stage axial flow compressor driven by a four-stage turbine. It was originally developed by the Allison Engine Company for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport entering production in 1954. It has been a Rolls-Royce product since 1995 when Allison was acquired by Rolls-Royce. The commercial version is designated 501-D. Over 18,000 engines have been produced since 1954, logging over 200 million flying hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schweizer S300</span> Helicopter model

The Schweizer S300 series family of light utility helicopters was originally produced by Hughes Helicopters, as a development of the Hughes 269. Later manufactured by Schweizer Aircraft, and currently produced by Schweizer RSG, the basic design has been in production for over 50 years. The single, three-bladed main rotor and piston-powered S300 is mostly used as a cost-effective platform for training and agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout</span> 2000s American unmanned autonomous helicopter developed by Northrop Grumman

The Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout is an unmanned autonomous helicopter developed by Northrop Grumman for use by the United States Armed Forces. The Fire Scout is designed to provide reconnaissance, situational awareness, aerial fire support and precision targeting support for ground, air and sea forces. The initial RQ-8A version was based on the Schweizer 330, while the enhanced MQ-8B was derived from the Schweizer 333. The larger MQ-8C Fire Scout variant is based on the Bell 407.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hughes TH-55 Osage</span> Piston-powered light training helicopter produced for the United States Army

The Hughes TH-55 Osage is a piston-powered light training helicopter produced for the United States Army. It was also produced as the Model 269 family of light utility helicopters, some of which were marketed as the Model 300. The Model 300C was produced and further developed by Schweizer after 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allison Model 250</span> Turboshaft aircraft engine

The Allison Model 250, now known as the Rolls-Royce M250, is a highly successful turboshaft engine family, originally developed by the Allison Engine Company in the early 1960s. The Model 250 has been produced by Rolls-Royce since it acquired Allison in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky X2</span> Experimental high-speed compound helicopter

The Sikorsky X2 is an experimental high-speed compound helicopter with coaxial rotors, developed by Sikorsky Aircraft, that made its first flight in 2008 and was officially retired in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolls-Royce RR300</span> Turbine aircraft engine

The Rolls-Royce RR300 is a turbine aircraft engine (turboshaft/turboprop) developed for the light helicopter/general aviation market. Rated at up to 300 shp (224 kW) at take-off power, the RR300 is a rebadged and downrated variant of the Rolls-Royce Model 250-C20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westland 30</span> Type of aircraft

The Westland 30 is a medium-sized civil helicopter designed and produced by the British aerospace company Westland Helicopters. It was derived from the Westland Lynx series of military helicopters, with which it retains a high level of commonality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enstrom 480</span> Type of aircraft

The Enstrom 480 is a small, light helicopter produced by the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-434</span> Light turbine-powered helicopter

The Sikorsky S-434 is a light, turbine-powered helicopter. The S-434 is an improved development of the Schweizer S333.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-97 Raider</span> American high-speed scout and attack compound helicopter

The Sikorsky S-97 Raider is a high-speed scout and attack compound helicopter based on the Advancing Blade Concept (ABC) with a coaxial rotor system under development by Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky planned to offer it for the United States Army's Armed Aerial Scout program, along with other possible uses. The S-97 made its maiden flight on 22 May 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout</span> Unmanned Helicopter

The Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout is an unmanned helicopter developed by Northrop Grumman for use by the United States Navy. The MQ-8C also has autonomous take-off and landing capability. It is designed to provide reconnaissance, situational awareness, aerial fire support and precision targeting support for ground, air and sea forces. The MQ-8C airframe is based on the Bell 407, while the avionics and other systems are developed from those used on the MQ-8B Fire Scout. It first flew in October 2013 and achieved initial operational capability on 28 June 2019.

References

  1. Schweizer Aircraft 333 page Archived 2007-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Sikorsky Press Release February 23, 2009". Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2009.
  3. "HOME - Schweizer". Schweizerrsg.com. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  4. 1 2 Frawley, Gerard: The International Directiory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, page 190. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN   1-875671-58-7
  5. Flug Revue article on the 333 Archived 2007-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Sikorsky announces launch of Schweizer S-434 Commercial Helicopter at Heli-Expo
  7. Heli-Expo 2008: Sikorsky launches Schweizer 434
  8. "Rotor & Wing Magazine :: Big Plans". www.aviationtoday.com. Archived from the original on 2007-03-25.
  9. Rotorcraft Report: New Schweizer Model? The Turbine 434 Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Escuela de Helicópteros". aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  11. "Dominican Republic Schweizer-333". Demand media. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  12. Philippe Chapleau (29 November 2015). "DynCorp signe pour cinq nouvelles années de soutien au profit de l'Alat saoudienne" (in French). Ouest-France . Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  13. "Royal Saudi Land Forces". http://www.scramble.nl. 2015. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2015.{{cite news}}: External link in |agency= (help)
  14. "Turkish News - Latest News from Turkey". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  15. "Contract to Buy 16 Helicopters Signed by Kurdistan R. Govt. - Media monitor". www.ekurd.net. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2023-12-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. Technical Data Summary, Model 333 (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-26
  18. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.