Sikorsky S-76
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| S-76 Spirit | |
|---|---|
 A New Jersey State Police helicopter flying low |
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| Type | SAR/utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation |
| Maiden flight | March 13, 1977 |
| Primary user | CHC Helicopter Corporation |
| Variants | Sikorsky S-75 |
The Sikorsky S-76 Spirit is a multi-purpose medium-size commercial helicopter. The S-76 is powered by two turboshafts, has a four-blade main and a four-blade tail rotor as well as a retractable landing gear.
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[edit] Development
The development of the machine began with Sikorsky in the middle of the 1970s. Target group were companies, which looked for a medium business helicopter, as well as the oil drilling industry. Sikorsky's development experiences from the UH-60 Black Hawk served as the basis for the S-74 (later renamed S-76 Spirit in honor of the US Bicentennial). which was able to transport 2 pilots and 12 passengers, received first two Allison 250 C30 turboshafts with 478 kW each. The prototype completed its first flight on March 13, 1977.
The S-76A was the first production variant. The type achieved 1982 several class records within the range climbing achievement, maximum speed and ceiling.
After the S-76A, the S-76 Mk II (1982), the S-76B in the year 1987 with a top speed of 155 knots at sea level.
Until December 2005 series was S-76C+ in production, which is equipped with Turboméca Arriel 2S1 engines with FADEC. Improved the cockpit was continued to equip with an EFIS suite from Honeywell. The tail rotor could be made quieter by modification. For comfort increase active noise and vibration dampers are used. The main rotor is now manufactured from composite materials.
Since January 3, 2006 the certified S-76 C++ has the more efficient Turboméca Arriel 2S2, an intake air filter, an improved and quieter transmission as well as changes of detail at the interior equipment and electronics. Altogether for the machine 92 orders of (1/2006).
S-76D is planned to be brought on the market in 2008.
[edit] Variants
[edit] Civil
- S-76A : Original production version, powered by two 485-kW (650-shp) Rolls-Royce (Allison) 250-C30 turboshaft engines. Large number modified to S-76A+. 284 manufactured.
- S-76A Utility : Utility transport version, equipped with sliding doors and a strengthened floor.
- S-76A+ : Unsold S-76s were fitted with two Turbomeca Arriel 1S turboshaft engines. 17 manufactured.
- S-76A++ : S-76 helicopters fitted with two Turbomeca Arriel 1S1 turboshaft engines.
- S-76A Mk II : Improved all-weather transport version, fitted with a more powerful engines, and other detail improvements.
- S-76B : Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B36A turboshaft engines. 101 built.
- S-76C : Powered by two 539-kW (981-shp) Turboméca Arriel 1S1 turboshaft engines. 43 manufactured.
- S-76C+ : Uprated version, fitted with improved Arriel 2S1 turboshafts with FADEC. 35 manufactured.
- S-76C++ : Turboméca Arriel 2S2
- S-76D : Proposed version.
[edit] Military
- AUH-76 : Armed utility transport version, developed from the S-76 Mk. II.
- H-76B : Military version of the S-76B.
- H-76N : Planned naval version of 1984, not implemented.
[edit] Experimental derivatives
- Sikorsky S-75
- The Advanced Composite Airframe Program (ACAP) was an all-composite Sikorsky early LHX proof of concept aircraft.
- 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.[1]
[edit] Operators
The S-76 is in use around the world with airlines, corporations, hospital, government operators and, notably, the British Royal Family. The first flight was conducted by Nick Lappos and John Dixson, Sikorsky Test Pilots, on March 13, 1977. The world's largest civilian fleet (79) of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters is operated by CHC Helicopter Corporation.
Other operators include:
[edit] Military Operators
- Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force(Former operator)
- Philippine Air Force-ordered 17 units: used as attack chopper(replaced by MD-520MG Defender)Search & Rescue, & VIP transport, It was seen during the 1986 People Power & saw action during 1989 Coup, flown by Rebel pilots
- Saudi Interior Ministry ordered 15 choppers at Dubai Airshow November 2007.
[edit] Non-Military
- Government Flying Service - retired 2002
- HeliExpress — scheduled service between Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen, China
- China Southern Zhuhai Helicopter Company
- CHC Helicopter Corporation
- Emergency Health Services in Nova Scotia
- HeliJet — scheduled service in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia
- Ornge (Ontario Air Ambulance) — air ambulance service in Ontario for the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care; Aircraft located in Kenora, Thunder Bay, Moosonee, Sudbury, Toronto(2), London and Ottawa. Provides critical care paramedics for scene response and interhospital transport
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Sweden
- Norrlandsflyg — operates nine helicopters in Sweden for Search and Rescue and air ambulance.
- Uppsala University Hospital — operates a S-76A++ as an air ambulance
- U.S. Helicopter — scheduled service between DMH and JFK Airport in New York City
- Geisinger Medical Center Life Flight
- Metro Life Flight Serving Northeast Ohio
- PHI, or Petroleum Helicopters, Inc., operates a large fleet serving the Gulf of Mexico offshore petroleum industry
- Airlog, or Air Logistics, serving the Gulf of Mexico offshore petroleum industry
- ERA Aviation, serving the Gulf of Mexico offshore petroleum industry
- Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and Health Care District of Palm Beach County, operating two S-76C+ designated "Trauma Hawks" as air ambulances.
- Esso Australia in Victoria, Australia operates 5 aircraft in Bass Strait oil fields
- Jayrow Helicopters in Victoria, Australia operates 3 aircraft off the Victorian coast
- Bristow Helicopters In UK and Global, operating 53 S76A, A+, A++, C+ and C++
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Spain
- Xunta de Galicia operates two S-76C+ for Search and Rescue
- Part of the presidential fleet, 1 aircraft
[edit] Incidents
[edit] Specifications (Sikorsky S-76C++)
General characteristics
- Crew: Minimum 2 pilots
- Capacity: 12 passenger
- Length: 52 ft 6 in (16.0 m)
- Rotor diameter: 44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)
- Height: 14 ft 5.8 in (4.414 m)
- Disc area: 1520.53 ft² (141.26 m²)
- Empty weight: 7,005 lb (3,177 kg)
- Loaded weight: 11,700 lb (5,306 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 11,700 lb (5,306 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Turboméca Arriel 2S1 turboshafts free-turbine turboshafts, over 500 kW () each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 155 knots (287 km/h)
- Ferry range: 345 nm w/ 30 minute reserve (639 km w/ 30 minute reserve)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- S-76 - Official company website.
- S-76A/A+/A++ Specs & Photo on flugzeuginfo.net
- S-76B Specs & Photo on flugzeuginfo.net
- S-76C/C+/C++ Specs & Photo on flugzeuginfo.net
- BBC News - "Which party is winning the air war?" - Details of the S-76's used in the United Kingdom general election, 2005.
- Moxon, Julian. "Fatal August 2005 Copterline S-76C+ crash controversy deepens as Sikorsky rejects NTSB verdict of main rotor servo failure", Flight International, 2006-08-29. Retrieved on 2006-10-16.
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
- List of active military aircraft of the United States
- List of helicopters
- List of military aircraft of the United States
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