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Revision as of 16:10, 23 July 2012

S-76
Galician Coast Guard S-76C+
Role SAR/utility helicopterType of aircraft
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
First flight March 13, 1977
Primary user CHC Helicopter Corporation
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 features twin turboshaft engines, four-bladed main and tail rotors and retractable landing gear.

Design and development

An early production Sikorsky S-76A owned by Canadian Helicopters and used as an air ambulance.

The development of the S-76 began in the mid-1970s as the S-74, with the design goal of providing a medium helicopter for corporate transportation and the oil drilling industry; the S-74 was later re-designated the S-76 in honor of the U.S. Bicentennial. Sikorsky's US government-sponsored design work on the UH-60 Black Hawk was utilized when developing the S-76. The S-76 rotor blade, main rotor head and tail rotor head used design concepts from the UH-60, along with a simplified version of its main rotor transmission.

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. Initial US Federal Aviation Administration type certification was granted on November 21, 1978, with the first customer delivery on February 27, 1979. The S-76 was named "Spirit" late in 1978, but this name was officially dropped by the company on October 9, 1980 due to translation issues into some foreign languages.

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.

The S-76C+ was produced until December 2005. It is equipped with twin Turboméca Arriel 2S1 engines with FADEC and a Honeywell EFIS suite. 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 is to 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.

Variants

Civil

S-76C search and rescue helicopter operated by Norrlandsflyg.
S-76C owned by LG Electronics as a VIP transport
S-76++ used for search-and-rescue duties at Royal Australian Air Force bases
  • 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 PT6B-36A or Pratt & Whitney Canada 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 Turboméca Arriel 2S1 turboshafts with FADEC. 35 manufactured.
  • S-76C++ : Turboméca Arriel 2S2
  • S-76D : Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S.

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-76 SHADOW
An S-76B prototype helicopter modified as a fantail demonstrator for the RAH-66 program at 1991 Paris Air Show
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.

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.

An S-76A owned by Canadian Helicopters used for Ornge (Ontario Air Ambulance).
An S-76C of the Spanish Air Force.

Military, and government operators

Sikorsky S-76B of the Royal Thai Navy.
 Argentina
Hong Kong/Hong Kong Hong Kong
 Japan
 Philippines
 Republic of China
 Saudi Arabia
 Serbia
 Spain
 Thailand

Accidents

Specifications (Sikorsky S-76C++)

Data from Sikorsky

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Capacity: seats 12–13
  • Length: 52 ft 6 in (16.00 m) from tip of main rotor to tip of tail rotor
  • Wingspan: 44 ft 0 in (13.41 m) rotor span
  • Width: 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) at horizontal stabilizer
  • Height: 14 ft 5.8 in (4.415 m) to tip of tail rotor
  • Empty weight: 4,490 lb (2,037 kg)
  • Gross weight: 11,700 lb (5,307 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 turboshaft, 922 shp (688 kW) each
  • Main rotor diameter: 4 × 44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 145 kn (167 mph, 269 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 155 kn (178 mph, 287 km/h)
  • Range: 411 nmi (473 mi, 761 km)
  • Service ceiling: 13,800 ft (4,200 m)

Avionics

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ CHC Helicopter (2010). "CHC Fleet". Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  2. Devine, Vinny. S-76 Helicopter. Sikorskyarchives.com, April 2012. Retrieved: 23 July 2012.
  3. ^ Simpson 2001, p. 505
  4. Air International March 1980, pp. 142, 144.
  5. Air International March 1980, p. 144.
  6. Kline, R.E., "Identification of S-76 Helicopter," Sikorsky Internal Correspondence P-2462, October 9, 1980.
  7. "R-4 Coast Guard". Sikorsky Archives. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  8. "Sikorsky explains four-year delivery slip for S-76D". Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  9. "First Flight for Improved Sikorsky S-76", p. 15. Aviation Week & Space Technology, February 16, 2009.
  10. Harding, Stephen. "Sikorsky S-75 ACAP". U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1997. ISBN 0-7643-0190-X.
  11. Amsta-lc-cstr (2009). "Historic US Army Helicopters". Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  12. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory". 2011 Aerospace. Aviation Week and Space Technology, January 2011.
  13. "World Military Aircraft Inventory". 2012 Aerospace. Aviation Week and Space Technology, January 2012.
  14. National Airborne Service Corps S-76B
  15. Sikorsky Press release, September 4, 2008.
  16. "Serbian Police Aviation". Aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  17. Press Releases - Xunta de Galicia's Search and Rescue Service Purchases Two S-76C++ Helicopters
  18. SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO - Los ángeles del mar de Galicia han salvado ya a 1.321 náufragos
  19. Pesca tramita la adquisición del tercer helicóptero de Gardacostas
  20. Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (2011). "S-76C++ Helicopter". Retrieved 6 July 2011.
Bibliography
  • Simpson, Rod (2001). Airlife's World Aircraft. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-115-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • "The Spirit of Sikorsky". Air International. Vol. 18 (No. 3): pp. 111–116, 142–144. March 1980. ISSN 0306-5634. {{cite journal}}: |issue= has extra text (help); |pages= has extra text (help); |volume= has extra text (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  • Apostolo, Giorgio. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters. New York: Bonanza Books, 1984. (page 90) ISBN 0-517-439352.

External links

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