Sikorsky S-76

S-76
Galician Coast Guard S-76C+
Role SAR/utility helicopter
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
First flight March 13, 1977
Primary user CHC Helicopter Corporation[1]
Number built 774 as of March 2011
Variants Sikorsky S-75

The Sikorsky S-76 is an American medium-size commercial utility helicopter. The S-76 is powered by two turboshaft engines, which drive both the main and tail rotors, each with four blades. The S-76 landing gear is retractable.

Contents

Design and development

The development of the S-76 began in the mid-1970s, with the design goal of providing a medium helicopter for corporate transportation and the oil drilling industry. Sikorsky's development of the UH-60 Black Hawk served as the basis for the S-74, which was later re-designated the S-76 Spirit in honor of the U.S. Bicentennial. The design accommodates 2 pilots and 12 passengers and was initially powered by two Allison 250 C30 turboshaft engines of 478 kW (641 hp) each. The prototype first flew on March 13, 1977.[2] The name "Spirit" was officially dropped by the company on October 9, 1980.[3]

The first production variant was the S-76A. In 1982 this model set class records for range, climb, speed and ceiling. Several airlines operate the S-76A on scheduled services including Helijet Airways of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The S-76 Mk II was introduced in 1982 and the S-76B in 1987, with its top speed of 155 kn (287 km/h) at sea level. Over 500 S-76s had been delivered by early 2001.[2]

The S-76C+ was produced until December 2005. It is equipped with twin Turboméca Arriel 2S1 engines with FADEC and a Honeywell EFIS suite from .[2] The aircraft incorporates active noise suppression, vibration dampers and a composite main rotor.

On January 3, 2006, the S-76 C++ replaced earlier models in production. It is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 engines and incorporates an improved and quieter transmission as well as minor changes in the interior equipment and avionics. There were 92 orders for this model as of January 2006.

Development of the follow-on S-76D model has been subject to delays due to technical problems in expanding the flight envelope.[4] It will be powered by 1,050 hp (783 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines driving composite rotors and will incorporate active vibration control. A prototype made its first flight on 7 February 2009 and type certification is expected in 2011, with deliveries anticipated by the end of the year. Three prototypes will be used in the certification program. One aircraft will be used to obtain certification of an optional electric rotor ice-protection system. Performance is anticipated to be substantially improved with the added power, but initial certification will retain the same 11,700 lb (5,307 kg) gross weight and maximum 155 kn (287 km/h) cruise speed.[5]

Variants

Civil

Military

Experimental derivatives

Sikorsky S-75 
The Advanced Composite Airframe Program (ACAP) was an all-composite Sikorsky early LHX proof of concept aircraft. It mated a new composite airframe with S-76 engines, rotors and powertrain components.[6]
Sikorsky S-76 SHADOW 
Boeing-Sikorsky MANPRINT study. The original concept of the LHX program was to produce a one-man helicopter that could do more than a two-man aircraft. The Sikorsky (S-76) Helicopter Advance Demonstrator of Operators Workload (SHADOW) had a single-pilot advanced cockpit grafted to its nose. The purpose was to study the MANPRINT or human engineering interface between the pilot and the cockpit controls and displays. The cockpit was the prototype of a single-pilot cockpit designed for use on the prototype RAH-66 Comanche armed reconnaissance helicopter. The cockpit was designed so sensors would feed data to the pilot through helmet mounted displays. The MANPRINT study determined that single-pilot operation of the Comanche was unsafe, and would result in pilot overload. As result of this study, the Comanche was designed to be operated by a crew of two.[7]

Operators

Civil

The S-76 is in civil service around the world with airlines, corporations, hospital, government operators and, notably, the British Royal Family. The world's largest civilian fleet is the 79 Sikorsky S-76 helicopters operated by CHC Helicopter Corporation.[1]

Military, and government operators

 Argentina
 Hong Kong
 Japan
 Philippines
 Saudi Arabia
 Serbia
 Spain
 Thailand

Accidents

Specifications (Sikorsky S-76C++)

Data from Sikorsky[15]

General characteristics

Performance

Avionics

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b CHC Helicopter (2010). "CHC Fleet". http://www.chc.ca/AboutCHC/Fleet/Pages/default.aspx. Retrieved January 11, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c Simpson 2001, p. 505
  3. ^ Kline, R.E., "Identification of S-76 Helicopter," Sikorsky Internal Correspondence P-2462, October 9, 1980.
  4. ^ "Sikorsky explains four-year delivery slip for S-76D". http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/12/13/350865/sikorsky-explains-four-year-delivery-slip-for-s-76d.html. Retrieved 2010-12-19. 
  5. ^ "First Flight for Improved Sikorsky S-76", p. 15. Aviation Week & Space Technology, February 16, 2009.
  6. ^ Harding, Stephen. "Sikorsky S-75 ACAP". U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1997. ISBN 0-7643-0190-X.
  7. ^ AMSTA-LC-CSTR (June 2009). "Historic US Army Helicopters". Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090627075327/http://tri.army.mil/LC/cs/Csa/aahist3.htm. Retrieved July 2, 2011. 
  8. ^ a b c d e "World Military Aircraft Inventory". 2011 Aerospace. Aviation Week and Space Technology, January 2011.
  9. ^ Sikorsky Press release, September 4, 2008.
  10. ^ [http://www.myaviation.net/search/search.php?view=&regnr=YU-HEG
  11. ^ http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/yugo/serbia/pol/serbia-police-home.htm
  12. ^ Press Releases - Xunta de Galicia's Search and Rescue Service Purchases Two S-76C++ Helicopters
  13. ^ SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO - Los ángeles del mar de Galicia han salvado ya a 1.321 náufragos
  14. ^ Pesca tramita la adquisición del tercer helicóptero de Gardacostas
  15. ^ Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (2011). "S-76C++ Helicopter". http://www.sikorsky.com/Products/Product+Details/Model+Family+Details/Model+Details?provcmid=null&mofvcmid=0dfa55f4a9d98110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&mofid=fcfa55f4a9d98110VgnVCM1000001382000a____&movcmid=9d3569a3a73a8110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&moid=8d3569a3a73a8110VgnVCM1000001382000a____. Retrieved 6 July 2011. 
Bibliography
  • Simpson, Rod (2001). Airlife's World Aircraft. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-115-3. 

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