Schweizer S333

Schweizer 330 / S333
Schweizer 330 / S333
	Schweizer 333 on the apron
General information
Type	Light utility and trainer helicopter
Manufacturer	Schweizer Aircraft Corporation; Sikorsky Aircraft
Status	Active In production
Primary users	Dominican Air Force Royal Saudi Land Forces
History
Manufactured	1988–present
Introduction date	1992
First flight	June 14, 1988
Developed from	Schweizer S300
Developed into	MQ-8 Fire Scout; Sikorsky S-434

The Schweizer 330 and S333 are turbine-powered developments of the Schweizer 300 light piston-powered helicopter. As of 2007, only the Schweizer 333 remains in production.^[1] In February 2009, the 333 was rebranded as the Sikorsky S-333.^[2] In 2018 the Schweizer R.S.G. bought the Schweizer Aircraft from Sikorsky Aircraft and it was rebranded as Schweizer S333 again.^[3]

Development

Schweizer 330

In 1987, Schweizer announced development of the Schweizer 330 using the dynamic components, rotors, controls and systems of the 300C; however, it was redesigned with an all-new fuselage.^[4] The first 330, converted from a 300C and powered by an Allison 250-C10A, flew on June 14, 1988. The FAA certified the aircraft in September 1992.

The improved 330SP was introduced in May 1997 and featured an improved rotor and raised skids, which could be retrofitted to previous 330 models. An Allison (later Rolls-Royce) 250-C20W turboshaft was derated to 165 kW (220 hp), giving the 330SP excellent hot and high performance, maintaining power output to 18,000 feet.^{[citation needed]}

Schweizer 333

Shortly after the release of the 330, Schweizer began work on upgrading the dynamic components of the Schweizer 330SP. Over two years later, Schweizer released a new variant, the Schweizer 333. Featuring the newly developed dynamic systems components and new-technology rotor blades with a cambered airfoil and a larger diameter rotor, the upgraded helicopter benefited from a greater max gross weight, more useful load, more speed and more hover performance; nearly a 30% increase in performance over the 330SP. Schweizer created a kit to upgrade Model 330 and 330SP aircraft.^[5]

In February 2008, an improved version of the series, the S-434 was released.^[6]^[7]

Design

The 330 used the 300C's dynamic components, a Rolls-Royce 250 turboshaft engine, and a new four-seat cockpit/cabin and body and new instrumentation.

Operational history

Schweizer was purchased on August 26, 2004, by Sikorsky Aircraft. The Schweizer 300/333 models fill a gap in the Sikorsky helicopter line, which is known for its medium and heavy utility and cargo helicopters. Sikorsky has since taken advantage of Schweizer's rapid prototyping technology, originally used during development of the 333 dynamic components and the RQ-8 prototype, to develop the X-2 Technology Demonstrator.^[8]

Variants

330: Using the 300C dynamic components, Schweizer mounted a Rolls-Royce 250-C10A engine to the airframe and developed a new four-seat cockpit/cabin and body.
330SP: improved rotor and raised skids, Rolls-Royce 250-C20W engine.
333: Featuring new dynamic system components, new rotor blades, and high skids as standard equipment, the 333 has a 30% greater useful load than the 330SP.
RQ-8/MQ-8 Fire Scout: The Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout is an unmanned derivative of the Schweizer 330SP/333 helicopter, with a new fuselage, new fuel system, and UAV electronics and sensors. It also utilizes a new four-bladed rotor system based on that of the Schweizer 333. The Fire Scout is currently in development for the United States Navy's VTUAV program with cooperation from Northrop Grumman. The original RQ-8A was based on the 330SP.
Sikorsky S-434: Based on improvements developed for the MQ-8B, this is a new version of the 333, having a four-bladed main rotor.^[9]

Operators

Dominican Republic

Dominican Air Force^[10]^[11]

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian Army^[12]^[13]

Non-state operators

Peshmerga & Ministry of Interior Aviation^[14]^[15]^[16]

Specifications (333)

Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft^[4] and Technical specifications^[17]

General characteristics

Crew: 1-2
Capacity: 1-3 pax
Length: 31 ft 2 in (9.50 m) overall
Height: 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m)
Empty weight: 1,210 lb (549 kg)
Gross weight: 2,460 lb (1,116 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 2,550 lb (1,157 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce M250-C20W turboshaft engine, 235 shp (175 kW)
Main rotor diameter: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Main rotor area: 594 sq ft (55.2 m²) *Blade section: - NACA 0015 modified^[18]

Performance

Cruise speed: 105 kn (121 mph, 194 km/h)
Range: 319 nmi (367 mi, 591 km)
Rate of climb: 1,380 ft/min (7.0 m/s)

References

^ Schweizer Aircraft 333 page Archived 2007-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Sikorsky Press Release February 23, 2009". Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2009.
^ "HOME - Schweizer". Schweizerrsg.com. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
^ ^a ^b Frawley, Gerard: The International Directiory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, page 190. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7
^ Flug Revue article on the 333 Archived 2007-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
^ Sikorsky announces launch of Schweizer S-434 Commercial Helicopter at Heli-Expo
^ Heli-Expo 2008: Sikorsky launches Schweizer 434
^ "Rotor & Wing Magazine :: Big Plans". www.aviationtoday.com. Archived from the original on 2007-03-25.
^ Rotorcraft Report: New Schweizer Model? The Turbine 434 Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Escuela de Helicópteros". aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
^ "Dominican Republic Schweizer-333". Demand media. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
^ Philippe Chapleau (29 November 2015). "DynCorp signe pour cinq nouvelles années de soutien au profit de l'Alat saoudienne" (in French). Ouest-France. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
^ "Royal Saudi Land Forces". http://www.scramble.nl. 2015. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2015. {{cite news}}: External link in |agency= (help)
^ "Turkish News - Latest News from Turkey". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
^ "Contract to Buy 16 Helicopters Signed by Kurdistan R. Govt. - Media monitor". www.ekurd.net. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2023-12-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Technical Data Summary, Model 333 (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-26
^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

External links

Schweizer 333 page on SACusa.com
FAA Type Certificate 4H12 Archived 2017-01-25 at the Wayback Machine

[1] Schweizer Aircraft 333 page Archived 2007-05-31 at the Wayback Machine

[2] "Sikorsky Press Release February 23, 2009". Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2009.

[3] "HOME - Schweizer". Schweizerrsg.com. Retrieved 2022-05-02.

[Frawley_Civil-4] Frawley, Gerard: The International Directiory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, page 190. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7

[5] Flug Revue article on the 333 Archived 2007-06-15 at the Wayback Machine

[6] Sikorsky announces launch of Schweizer S-434 Commercial Helicopter at Heli-Expo

[7] Heli-Expo 2008: Sikorsky launches Schweizer 434

[8] "Rotor & Wing Magazine :: Big Plans". www.aviationtoday.com. Archived from the original on 2007-03-25.

[9] Rotorcraft Report: New Schweizer Model? The Turbine 434 Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine

[10] "Escuela de Helicópteros". aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2013.

[11] "Dominican Republic Schweizer-333". Demand media. Retrieved 17 February 2013.

[12] Philippe Chapleau (29 November 2015). "DynCorp signe pour cinq nouvelles années de soutien au profit de l'Alat saoudienne" (in French). Ouest-France. Retrieved 2 December 2015.

[13] "Royal Saudi Land Forces". http://www.scramble.nl. 2015. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2015. {{cite news}}: External link in |agency= (help)

[14] "Turkish News - Latest News from Turkey". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

[15] "Contract to Buy 16 Helicopters Signed by Kurdistan R. Govt. - Media monitor". www.ekurd.net. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

[16] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2023-12-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[17] Technical Data Summary, Model 333 (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-26

[Selig-18] Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

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v t e Schweizer Aircraft
Sailplanes & Gliders	1-1 1-2 1-3 1-6 1-7 2-8 9-10 15-11 2-12 6-14 1-15 1-16 1-17 2-18 1-19 1-20 1-21 2-22 1-23 1-24 2-25 1-26 2-27 7-28 1-29 1-30 2-31 2-32 2-33 1-34 1-35 1-36 2-37 2-38 X-26 Frigate
Agricultural Aircraft	Ag Cat Ag Cat Super B
Amphibious Aircraft	TSC-1 Teal
Helicopters	300 330 333 S-434
Reconnaissance Aircraft	QT-2 SA 2-37 RU-38 Twin Condor
UAVs	MQ-8 Fire Scout
People	Ernest Schweizer Paul A Schweizer William (Bill) Schweizer

v t e Sikorsky aircraft
Fixed-wing aircraft (company designations)	S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 S-6 S-7 S-8 S-9 S-10 S-11 S-12 S-13 S-14 S-15 S-16 S-17 S-18 S-19 S-20 S-21 S-22/23/24/25/26/27 S-28 S-29-A S-30 S-31 S-32 S-33 S-34 S-35 S-36 S-37 S-38 S-39 S-40 S-41 S-42 S-43 VS-44 S-45
Fixed-wing aircraft (military designations)	C-6 C-28 JRS JR2S PS P2S RS XBLR-3 XPBS XSS XV-2
Helicopters (company designations)	VS-300 (S-46) S-47 S-48 S-49 S-50 S-51 S-52 S-53 S-54 S-55 S-56 S-57 S-58 S-59 S-60 S-61 S-61L/N S-61R S-62 S-63 S-64 S-65 S-66 S-67 S-68 S-69 S-70 S-71 S-72 S-73 S-74 S-75 S-76 S-80 S-92 S-95 S-97 S-100 S-102 S-103 S-300 S-333 S-434
Helicopters (military designations)	SH-3 Sea King HH-3E/F R-4 H-5 H-6 H-18 H-19 Chickasaw H-34 Choctaw CH-37 Mojave XH-39 HH-52A Seaguard CH-53 Sea Stallion CH-53E Super Stallion CH-53K King Stallion MH-53 CH-54 Tarhe UH-60 Black Hawk HH-60G Pave Hawk HH-60J/MH-60T MH-60R/S Seahawk SH-60B/F Seahawk H-60J/K VH-60 RAH-66 Comanche VH-92 Patriot CH-124 Sea King CH-148 Cyclone HLH
Experimental aircraft	Cypher/Cypher II Firefly Raider Raider X SB-1 X2 XBLR-3 XV-2