S I K O R S K Y   Sikorsky celebrated its 80th birthday in 2003 by looking squarely at the future across its entire product line.
        Sikorsky delivered on its core military helicopter commitments in 2003. The U.S. Army plans to modernize as many as 1,200 of its BLACK HAWK helicopters, and the first two remanufactured aircraft went aloft in the fall. The updated BLACK HAWK helicopters feature enhanced performance and a new ability to integrate into the networked battlefield of the future. The U.S. Navy’s first new Airborne Mine Countermeasures helicopters made their inaugural flights, a key milestone in the Navy’s transition to an all-Sikorsky fleet.
        Sikorsky’s commercial helicopter business expanded dramatically in 2003. The S-92 helicopter received the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association. The first signed contracts for S-92 deliveries quickly followed that accolade. Sikorsky opened its S-92 assembly line, and plans first customer deliveries in 2004. Meanwhile, the 6- to 12-passenger S 76 enjoyed a renaissance in 2003, with sales at a two-decade high, driven by fleet renewals for offshore oil customers.
        Sikorsky’s aftermarket growth strategy continued to pay dividends. The $1 billion annual revenue challenge was achieved on schedule in 2003, in part by expanded aftermarket partnerships with the U.S. Army. The Worldwide Customer Service business made another strategic acquisition during the year, buying Helitech of Australia as a prospective aftermarket provider for that country’s planned renewal of its military helicopter fleet.
       This year of accomplishment proves that there is a difference between being 80 and being old. Eight decades on from the company’s founding, Sikorsky Aircraft continues to redefine its own future.