Sikorsky S-97 Raider

[Scott Kenny]

Main problem will be cost, this things going to be a lot more pricey than a dolphin.

Speed costs.

Gets to the disaster sooner, and gets a couple injured folks back to hospitals faster.

How much is being able to get someone 100nmi off the coast to a hospital in one hour worth?

 

[bob225]

Speed costs.

Gets to the disaster sooner, and gets a couple injured folks back to hospitals faster.

How much is being able to get someone 100nmi off the coast to a hospital in one hour worth?

Yes these would be great as air-ambulances.

However in the UK all air ambulances are charity funded, buying / leasing and running these things is massively expensive, sadly i don't see it happening.

Get there quicker, yep, but 8/10 times the patients are transported to hospital by land ambulance, as you have more space, less noise and an extra pair of hands.

The main advantage of an air ambulance is the delivery of specialist care, depending on who's on-board. Could be an advanced Paramedic, and or a doctor. (if your really lucky you get a decent paramedic and an ED doc or even better an anaesthetist)

Heli-med normally have their own dispatcher watching calls, looking for ones they think may come their way. They may contact the ambulance crew to offer help, self deploy or be contacted by the ground team for help.

This or the 609 would be great in the wide open spaces of the US, it would get specialist help to remote patients etc much faster

Now coast guard / Search and rescue would be another option. fast transit to search / rescue and fast transport to hospital, that's where i'd aim my marketing.

UK SAR is now ran by Bristow, long transit times from a reduced number of bases with smaller choppers.

It'll come down to cost, politics and the lowest bider, sadly not what's best for the job.

 

[yasotay]

Speed usually only "buys" its way into a requirement if you expect the platform to routinely execute missions at distances of 100NM or greater. The U.S. Coast Guard did consider MV-22. It lost on two points. First, the downwash made it difficult to rescue people in the water. Second, plain and simple - cost. Without significant increase in budget it was unaffordable.
I recognize that an S-97 is not on par with a tilt-rotor, but it is much more complex than a conventional helicopter and heavier. It would cost more, especially if your organization was the original user introducing the platform, which the USCG has never been to my knowledge. Had the U.S. Army not bailed on the FARA program it is conceivable the USCG could have bought into the program for a Dauphin replacement, some two decades from now.

 

[H_K]

Had the U.S. Army not bailed on the FARA program it is conceivable the USCG could have bought into the program for a Dauphin replacement, some two decades from now.

There’s no way Raider could handle any SAR or Medical mission without designing a whole new and bigger aircraft… the cabin isn’t wide enough for stretchers and the access door is very small, ruling out hoisting operations.

If you want something for the USCG mission, Airbus has you covered with their Racer.

 

[VTOLicious]

Not to forget Raider is single engine.

 

[yasotay]

It is correct to say that a larger version of the Raider X would be needed for SAR duties and that the Prototypes were single engine. However, Airbus compounds, like X-2 has had a demonstrator only. I have no doubt that the Racer will demonstrate the expected performance. The USCG, has worked with Airbus for some time now. Assuming that Airbus can meet the price point of the USCG they would likely be a front runner. However if the cost is significant, I would not be surprised to see Leonardo making a compelling case for an existing platform.
I will say it is likely that the FARA program would have seen significant changes as a program. It would have needed extended distance to operate in the Pacific and therefore, over water. Both FARA teams had dual engine designs waiting for that possibility I am sure, especially since one of the senior Army Aviation officials publicly indicated that the single engine requirements were not tenable.
We will never know.