Sikorsky S-76
Encyclopedia
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.
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 each. The prototype first flew on March 13, 1977. The name "Spirit" was officially dropped by the company on October 9, 1980.
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 (304 km/h) at sea level. Over 500 S-76s had been delivered by early 2001.
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 . 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. It will be powered by 1050 hp 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 11700 lb (5,307 kg) gross weight and maximum 155 kn (304 km/h) cruise speed.
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.
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.
. The world's largest civilian fleet is the 79 Sikorsky S-76 helicopters operated by CHC Helicopter Corporation
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
medium-size commercial utility helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
. The S-76 is powered by two turboshaft
Turboshaft
A turboshaft engine is a form of gas turbine which is optimized to produce free turbine shaft power, rather than jet thrust...
engines, which drive both the main and tail rotors, each with four blades. The S-76 landing gear
Landing Gear
Landing Gear is Devin the Dude's fifth studio album. It was released on October 7, 2008. It was his first studio album since signing with the label Razor & Tie. It features a high-profile guest appearance from Snoop Dogg. As of October 30, 2008, the album has sold 18,906 copies.-Track...
is retractable.
Design and development
United States Bicentennial
The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to the historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic...
. The design accommodates 2 pilots and 12 passengers and was initially powered by two Allison 250 C30 turboshaft engines of 478 kW each. The prototype first flew on March 13, 1977. The name "Spirit" was officially dropped by the company on October 9, 1980.
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
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The S-76 Mk II was introduced in 1982 and the S-76B in 1987, with its top speed of 155 kn (304 km/h) at sea level. Over 500 S-76s had been delivered by early 2001.
The S-76C+ was produced until December 2005. It is equipped with twin Turboméca Arriel 2S1
Turbomeca Arriel
-External links:*...
engines with FADEC
FADEC
Full Authority Digital Engine Control is a system consisting of a digital computer, called an electronic engine controller or engine control unit , and its related accessories that control all aspects of aircraft engine performance...
and a Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
EFIS
Electronic Flight Instrument System
An electronic flight instrument system is a flight deck instrument display system in which the display technology used is electronic rather than electromechanical. EFIS normally consists of a primary flight display , multi-function display and engine indicating and crew alerting system display...
suite from . The aircraft incorporates active noise suppression, vibration dampers and a composite
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
main rotor.
On January 3, 2006, the S-76 C++ replaced earlier models in production. It is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2S2
Turbomeca Arriel
-External links:*...
engines and incorporates an improved and quieter transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
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. It will be powered by 1050 hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S
Pratt & Whitney Canada PW200
-External links:* *...
engines driving composite rotors and will incorporate active vibration control. A prototype made its first flight on 7 February 2009 and type certification
Type certificate
A Type Certificate, is awarded by aviation regulating bodies to aerospace manufacturers after it has been established that the particular design of a civil aircraft, engine, or propeller has fulfilled the regulating bodies' current prevailing airworthiness requirements for the safe conduct of...
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 11700 lb (5,307 kg) gross weight and maximum 155 kn (304 km/h) cruise speed.
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+, A++, C, and C+. 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 more powerful engines, and other detail improvements.
- S-76B : Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 is one of the most popular turboprop aircraft engines in history, and is produced by Pratt & Whitney Canada. The PT6 family is particularly well known for its extremely high reliability, with MTBO's on the order of 9000 hours in some models. In US military use, they...
B-36A or PT6B-36B 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 : Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210SPratt & Whitney Canada PW200-External links:* *...
.
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.
Experimental derivatives
Sikorsky S-75
|-See also:-External links:* * * *...
: The Advanced Composite Airframe Program (ACAP) was an all-composite Sikorsky early LHX proof of concept aircraft. It mated a new composite
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
airframe with S-76 engines, rotors and powertrain components.
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
RAH-66 Comanche
The Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was an advanced five-blade armed reconnaissance and attack helicopter designed for the United States Army. The RAH-66 program was canceled in 2004, before mass production began, after nearly $7 billion was spent on the program.During the early 1980s, the U.S...
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.
Civil
The S-76 is in civil service around the world with airlines, corporations, hospital, government operators and, notably, the British Royal FamilyBritish Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
. The world's largest civilian fleet is the 79 Sikorsky S-76 helicopters operated by CHC Helicopter Corporation
CHC Helicopter
CHC Helicopter is one of the world’s largest helicopter services company specializing in: Transportation to offshore oil and gas platforms; Civilian search and rescue services; Helicopter maintenance repair and overhaul...
.
Military, and government operators
- Argentine Air ForceArgentine Air ForceThe Argentine Air Force is the national aviation branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic. , it had 14,606 military and 6,854 civilian staff.-History:...
- 1 S-76B Mark II helicopter
- Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air ForceRoyal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air ForceThe Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force was an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, based in Hong Kong. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, the unit was disbanded on 1 April 1993.Although technically an armed...
(former operator)
- Japan Coast GuardJapan Coast GuardThe , formerly the Maritime Safety Agency, is the Japanese coast guard. Comprising about 12,000 personnel, it is under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and is responsible for the protection the coast-lines of Japan...
- 4 S-76Cs
- Philippine Air ForcePhilippine Air ForceThe Philippine Air Force is the air force of the Republic of the Philippines, and one of the three main services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas....
- 4 AUH-76
- Ministry of InteriorMinistry of Interior (Saudi Arabia)The Ministry of Interior is the responsible authority for national security of Saudi Arabia, Including Police divisions, Rescue and Civil Defense.-Aircraft inventory:! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft...
ordered 15 in November 2007.
- Serbian Ministry of the Interior - 1 S-76B registration number YU-HEG using as Presidential helicopter
- Spanish Air ForceSpanish Air Force-The early stages:Hot air balloons had been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Alfredo Kindelán, Leonardo Torres y Quevedo directed the construction of the first Spanish dirigible in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located...
- 8 S-76s (78th wing) - Galician Coast Guard - 2 S-76C+s
- Royal Thai NavyRoyal Thai NavyThe Royal Thai Navy is the navy of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, it was established in the late 19th century. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse is "The Father of Royal Thai Navy". Similar to the organizational structure of the United States, the Royal Thai Navy includes the...
- 5 S-76s
Specifications (Sikorsky S-76C++)
See also
External links
- Official Sikorsky S-76
- S-76 database by serial number, tail numbers, models, and current status
- 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, 2005United Kingdom general election, 2005The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
.