WinAir Presents: The Preeminent Guide to the Sikorsky S-76 Helicopter—infographic displays essential information on the S-76, a multi-mission medium-size commercial utility helicopter
(A Sikorsky S-76B helicopter is secured to the flight deck during naval exercises in June 2001 – PH1 KEVIN H. TIERNEY, USN / Public domain)
The Preeminent Guide to the Sikorsky S-76 Helicopter shines the spotlight on the Sikorsky S-76‘s typical uses, vital statistics, general characteristics, performance outputs, avionics information, and available variants. At WinAir, we have clients worldwide that operate with the S-76 in their fleet. We also have a comprehensive understanding of this aircraft and the corresponding maintenance programs for its many variants. Our clients utilize this fast, versatile, and robust helicopter for a variety of missions, including offshore oil and gas exploration, where this helicopter has been considered a mainstay for decades, VIP/corporate transport, search and rescue, air ambulance/medevac, and much more.
The Sikorsky S-76 helicopter is an American-made medium-size commercial utility helicopter that is manufactured by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (now owned by Lockheed Martin).(1) It features twin turboshaft engines, four-bladed main and tail rotors, and retractable landing gear.(2) This helicopter was initially developed in the mid-1970s as the S-74, with a design based on the S-70 (UH-60 Black Hawk). It was later renamed the S-76 to take advantage of the American Bicentennial that was taking place in 1976. On March 13, 1977, it achieved first flight and has remained in production ever since.
The S-76 is widely used by civil, military, and government sectors for an array of missions. According to Lockheed Martin, offshore missions are responsible for approximately 65% of the total flight hours accumulated on the S-76, followed by Executive/VIP transport for 20%, search and rescue (SAR) and air ambulance/medevac missions for 10%, and the remaining 5% for various industry sub-sets. Lockheed also reports that 10 countries rely on the S-76 for Head of State missions. This statistic includes the S-76 C++ helicopter that is operated by The Queen’s Helicopter Flight (TQHF), pictured in the infographic below, and used for air transport for the British Royal Family and the Government of the United Kingdom.(11) In terms of noteworthy accomplishments, the S-76 helicopter was the first helicopter to circumnavigate the world in an east-to-west direction (against prevailing winds), when it was successfully piloted by Australian adventurer Dick Smith, in 1995.(5)
For simple reference, an infographic summary is below this image.
(Click on the infographic to zoom into the material)
Infographic Summary:
The Preeminent Guide to the Sikorsky S-76 Helicopter
Introducing the Sikorsky S-76 Helicopter(2)
The Sikorsky S-76 is an American-made medium-size commercial utility helicopter manufactured by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.(3)
It features twin turboshaft engines, four-bladed main and tail rotors, and retractable landing gear.(4)
Typical Aircraft Uses[9]
- Offshore Oil and Gas
- Executive/VIP Transport
- Search and Rescue (SAR)
- Air Ambulance/Medevac
Vital Statistics[5]
- Role: Utility Helicopter
- National Origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
- First Flight: March 13, 1977
- Status: In service
- Produced: 1977-present
- Number Built: 1,090 (all variants) as of June 2015
- Unit Cost: US$15M (S-76D) as of 2020, US$12M (S-76C++) as of 2020
* The S-76 was the first helicopter to circumnavigate the world in an east-to-west direction, piloted by Australian adventurer Dick Smith, in 1995.
General Characteristics (S-76C++)[7]
- Crew: Two (when suitably equipped, can operate with one pilot in VFR conditions and in IFR)
- Capacity: 13 Passengers
- Length: 52 ft 6 in (16 m) from tip of main rotor to tip of tail rotor
- Width: 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) at horizontal stabilizer
- Height: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m) to tip of tail rotor
- Empty Weight: 7,005 lb (3,177 kg) in utility configuration
- Gross Weight: 11,700 lb (5,306 kg)
- Fuel Capacity: 281 US gallons (1,064 liters), with 50 or 102 US gallons (189 or 386 liters) available in extra auxiliary tanks
- Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 turboshaft, 922 shp (688 kW) each
- Main Rotor Diameter: 44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)
Performance Outputs (S-76C++)[9]
- Maximum Speed: 155 kn (178 mph, 287 km/h) at maximum takeoff weight at sea level in standard atmospheric conditions
- Cruise Speed: 155 kn (178 mph, 287 km/h) maximum cruise speed is the same as maximum speed
- Service Ceiling: 13,500 ft (4,115 m)
- Range: 411 nmi (473 mi, 761 km) no reserves, at long-range cruise speed at 4,000 ft altitude
- Service Ceiling: 13,800 ft (4,200 m)
* The Queen’s Helicopter Flight (TQHF) is part of the Queen’s Private Secretary’s department of the Royal Household and is tasked by the Royal Travel Office at Buckingham Palace. On Novemeber 4, 2009, Sikorsky announced the delivery of a new S-76C++ helicopter to TQHF (this helicopter is pictured above).(11)
Avionics Information (S-76C++)[12]
- Honeywell four-tube EFIS and Collins Proline II avionics suite
- Four-axis fully coupled autopilot
- Integrated Instrument Display System (IIDS)
- Honeywell ground proximity warning system
- Honeywell Primus weather radar
- Dual comm/nav radios
- Automatic direction finder
- Dual attitude and heading reference system and air data computers
- Radio altimeter
- Mode C transponder
- Dual VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) and Instrument landing system (ILS)
- Distance measuring equipment
- Cockpit voice recorder
Available Variants[15]
Civil:
- S-76A
- S-76A Utility
- S-76A+
- S-76A++
- S-76A Mk II
- S-76B
- S-76C
- S-76C+
- S-76C++
- S-76D
Military:
- AUH-76
- H-76 Eagle
Experimental Derivatives:
- S-75
- S-76 SHADOW
* The Sikorsky (S-76) Helicopter Advance Demonstrator of Operations Workload (SHADOW) achieved its first flight on June 4, 1985. This helicopter had a single advanced cockpit grafted to its nose so that sensors could transmit data to the pilot through helmet-mounted displays.(18)
Streamline and Expedite S-76 Maintenance Activities with WinAir
(Two S-76s appear at the Heldair Show Maritiem in September 2009 – Maarten Visser from Capelle aan den IJssel, Nederland / CC BY-SA—modified)
If you operate with the S-76, then you know all about the importance of accurately tracking and managing maintenance activities and maintaining inventory control across your entire fleet. You know that to always be mission ready, you need aircraft that are properly maintained, with up-to-date maintenance records, and are airworthy. WinAir Version 7 can help your business with all of this and more. The software is the solution of choice for business focused on reliability, data accuracy, and ensuring compliance.
WinAir has software packages that are catered to the specific needs of operators (airlines, charters, flight schools, etc.), heliops, MROs, and CAMOs. We also offer All-Inclusive and Part Sales packages. If you are seeking additional support, then our available services are there to lending a helping hand with a variety of administrative and technical tasks. These include Process Consultation, Project Management, Data Migration, Training, Aircraft Template Services, Hosting, Integrations, and Client Success services.
Concerning our Aircraft Template Services, our ability to build aircraft templates will be of particular interest to S-76 operators. Our Aircraft Services team has the skills and industry knowledge to translate S-76 manufacturer maintenance requirements for any variant into accurate electronic templates within WinAir. This service will save you time, provide you with quality assurance, and will expedite your transition to WinAir.
Want to learn more about how your business will benefit from WinAir and our Aircraft Services? Contact us today to book a demo!
(An employee views WinAir Dashboards and a Sikorsky S-76 aircraft template on dual computer monitors—Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com—modified—software images © WinAir)
About WinAir:
Based in London, Ontario, Canada, WinAir has 30 years of experience as a leader in aviation management software. Companies rely on WinAir to efficiently and effectively track and manage aircraft maintenance and inventory control. WinAir is proud to lay claim to hundreds of installations at aviation-specific organizations worldwide. From airlines to heli-ops, law enforcement agencies, oil industry suppliers, MROs, CAMOs, medical evacuation response teams and more, businesses using WinAir regard the solution as a necessary component to the successful management of their fleet maintenance programs.
