First flight for Defiant delayed to 2019

WASHINGTON — The Sikorsky-Boeing Defiant design will not have its first flight in 2018, following a technical issue discovered during ground tests.

Rich Koucheravy, Sikorsky director of business development for future vertical lift, and Randy Rotte, Boeing director of global‎ sales and marketing for cargo helicopters and FVL, revealed the delay in a call with reporters Wednesday.

“We are going to slip our first flight into early 2019. While it’s not necessarily, I’m sure, what a lot of folks would have liked — it’s not necessarily what we would have liked — we continue to build confidence in our configuration,” Koucheravy said.

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/12/12/first-flight-for-defiant-delayed-to-2019/