CHARLOTTE, N.C., 16 Jan. 2012. Goodrich Corp. (NYSE:GR) has joined the Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. S-97 RAIDER helicopter supplier team that is building a next-generation helicopter, which will be evaluated by U.S. military officials in 2014. Goodrich staff in Rome, N.Y.; Burnsville, Minn.; and Oldsmar, Fla., will contribute high-speed flexible couplings and an advanced tail propulsion drive shaft system, a SmartProbe air data system, and a lightweight, efficient LED lighting system for the S-97 RAIDER aircraft.

The drive system saves significant weight over traditional helicopter drive systems, while maintaining rugged reliability and damage tolerance for continued operation in battlefield conditions. The SmartProbe air data system provides weight savings, increased performance and maturity from millions of operational flight hours on platforms worldwide.  Along with weight savings, the new LED lighting system delivers reduced life cycle costs and significantly less power usage than incandescent lights.

"Goodrich's selection was based on its capabilities to contribute high-performance, reliable, low-weight technologies that are easily integrated into the new rotorcraft design," says Steve Croke, vice president of Goodrich Power Transmission Systems. "Our advanced systems have the maturity required to meet the team's goal to achieve first flight in 2014.”

The S-97 RAIDER aircraft program follows Sikorsky's X2 Technology demonstrator aircraft, which flew at more than 250 knots flight speed, or twice the average cruise speed of a conventional helicopter.