Helicopter could become military's fastest.

• Author: Beidel, Eric
• Position: TECHWIRE

The manufacturer of the Army's Black a Hawk helicopters now may have built the world's fastest whirlybird.

Though no Guinness officials were on hand, Sikorsky Aircraft's new helicopter unofficially crushed a long-acknowledged speed record during a September flight in Florida.

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The X2 Technology Demonstrator reached 250 knots during a flight that lasted a little more than an hour. It wasn't until the light helicopter topped 259 knots that it began experiencing vibrations comparable to those seen in conventional choppers at 140 knots, said Steve Weiner, chief engineer for the X2 program.

The X2 is sleek and narrow and looks like a plane without wings. Despite its speed and airplane-like appearance, the X2 "was born a helicopter," said Jim Kagdis, advanced programs manager at Sikorsky. "It is...