Sikorsky Test Pilot and NTPS Graduate Kevin Bredenbeck Co-Piloted the S-97 RAIDER helicopter on its first test flight on May 22nd, 2015. Together with fellow Sikorsky test pilot Bill Fell, they took the aircraft through a series of maneuvers designed to test the aircraft’s hover and low-speed capability. With first flight achieved, the RAIDER helicopter now moves into more progressive flight testing to demonstrate key performance parameters critical to future combat operations including armed reconnaissance, light assault, light attack and special operations.
Kevin previously conducted the first flight of Sikorsky's Collier-Award winning X2 Technology Demonstrator.
Sikorsky launched the S-97 RAIDER helicopter program in September 2010, with objectives of maturing the X2™ rotorcraft technology and demonstrating a helicopter that meets current U.S. Army special operations and armed reconnaissance needs, while maturing technologies for Future Vertical Lift (FVL).
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