The Sikorsky S-76, a medium-class hauler, has proven a relative commercial success for Sikorsky Aircraft with over 1,000 units produced for various markets.
The Model S-76 was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for the ultra-competitive medium-lift commercial helicopter market. Its design was influenced by the company's work to bring the S-70 about (this becoming the famous UH-60 'Black Hawk' in military service). The product began as the "S-74" during the middle part of the 1970s and intended for the oil industry and VIP / corporate transport sectors. In line with the American celebrations of 1976 ( the country's bicentennial), the model was redesignated to "S-76". The end-product became a popular entry into the medium-lift category with nearly 1,100 examples produced.
The S-76 was given a twin-turboshaft engine arrangement and these systems were fitted over the passenger cabin in the usual way. The cockpit seated its crew of two side-by-side aft of a short nose assembly with generally good vision out-of-the-cockpit. Access was by way of hinged, Automobile-style doors while the passenger section carried rectangular sliding doors to either side of the fuselage. The tail stem was well-contoured with the existing lines of the fuselage and housed a drive shaft powering a four-bladed tail rotor offset to portside. This was used to balanced the torque effect caused by the four-bladed main rotor system mounted atop the passenger cabin. A wheeled tricycle undercarriage was installed to allow for ground running and made wholly retractable to maintain aerodynamic efficiency during flight.
The original production became the S-76A and this model was given 2 x Rolls-Royce (Allison) 250-C30 turboshaft engines of 650 horsepower each. Some 284 units followed in production. The utility-minded form became the S-76A "Utility" and this mark featured a reinforced cabin floor.
The S-76B was produced with 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-36A or PT6B-36B engines and 101 were made to this standard. The S-76C was given 2 x Turbomeca Arriel 1S1 engines and 43 were followed in production. The S-76C+ was similar but carried 2 x Turbomeca Arriel 2S1 engines (with complete digital FADEC support) and 35 followed. The S-76C++ was next and this product sported Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 engines instead. The S-76D was completed with 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines and a Thales "Topdeck" avionics fit.
The S-76C++ variant was crewed by two with seating for thirteen. It was given an overall length of 52.5 feet with a height of 14.5 feet. Empty weight was listed at 7,000lb with a gross weight of 11,700lb. Power from the 2 x Turbomeca Arriel units became 922 horsepower each allowing for a maximum speed of 180 miles-per-hour with a range out to 475 miles and a service ceiling of about 13,800 feet.
Military variants of the S-76 model were the "AUH-76" (based on the aforementioned S-76 Mk II model) and the H-76 "Eagle" which was proposed for maritime use - though not adopted by any one party. The S-76 "Shadow" was used in the development of the (ultimately abandoned) U.S. Army's RAH-66 "Comanche" light attack stealth helicopter program (detailed elsewhere on this site). A single S-76B was also modified with a fantail (shrouded) rotor unit for the same program and showcased at the 1991 Paris Air Show.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
November 2018 - United States Army aviation personnel have test-flown an autonomous development of the S-76B helicopter family (known specifically as the Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft - or "SARA"). The model in question has been modified by Sikorsky (Lockheed) in conjunction with DARPA.
Argentina; China; Honduras; Hong Kong; Japan; Jordan; Philippines; Saudi Arabia; Serbia; Spain; Taiwan; Thailand; Trinidad and Tobago; Turkmenistan; United Kingdom; United States
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
✓Special-Mission: MEDical EVACuation (MEDEVAC)
Extraction of wounded combat or civilian elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and available internal volume or external carrying capability.
✓Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).
✓Transport
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.
✓Commercial Aviation
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.
✓VIP Service
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.
Length
52.5 ft (16.00 m)
Height
14.5 ft (4.42 m)
Empty Wgt
7,011 lb (3,180 kg)
MTOW
11,707 lb (5,310 kg)
Wgt Diff
+4,696 lb (+2,130 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Sikorsky S-76 production variant)
Installed:
2 x Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 turboshaft engines developing 922 horsepower each and driving a four-bladed main rotor and four-bladed tail rotor.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Sikorsky S-76 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
Typically none though militarized "gunship" types fit light-class armament as necessary.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
S-76 - Base Model Designation
S-76A - Initial production model; fitted with Rolls-Royce 250-C30 turboshaft engines.
S-76A "Utility" - Base transport model; reinforced cabin floor; side sliding door panels.
S-76A+ - S-76 models re-engined with Turbomeca Arriel 1S engines.
S-76A++ - S-76 models re-engined with Turbomeca Arriel 1S1 engines.
S-76A Mk II - All-weather transport model; uprated engines.
S-76B - Fitted with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-36A or PWC PT6B-36B engines; 101 examples.
S-76C - Fitted with Turbomeca Arriel 1S1 engines; 43 examples.
S-76C+ - Fitted with Turbomeca Arriel 2S1 FADEC engines; 35 examples.
S-76C++ - Fitted with Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 engines
S-76D - Fitted with PWC PW210S engines and Thales avionics suite; reduced noise.
AUH-76 - Armed utility transport based on S-76 Mk II model.
H-76 "Eagle" - Proposed militarized maritime patrol variant based on the S-76B; not produced.
S-75 - Advanced composite airframe experimental platform.
S-76 "SHADOW" - Single-seat experimental platform.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.
Argentina; China; Honduras; Hong Kong; Japan; Jordan; Philippines; Saudi Arabia; Serbia; Spain; Taiwan; Thailand; Trinidad and Tobago; Turkmenistan; United Kingdom; United States
