Sikorsky S-76
Sikorsky · United States · first flew 1977 · helicopter
The Sikorsky S-76 is a twin-turbine medium helicopter, the company's first purpose-built civil design, widely used for offshore, VIP and EMS work.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Sleek streamlined fuselage with retractable tricycle landing gear |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Sleek streamlined fuselage with retractable tricycle landing gear
- Twin engines mounted above the cabin
- Four-blade main and four-blade tail rotor
The streamlined fuselage, retractable tricycle gear, above-cabin twin engines and four-blade rotors mark out the S-76.
Specifications
- The Sikorsky S-76 has a length of 16 m (52 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.41 m (44 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 287 km/h (178 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2 pilots.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Sikorsky developed the S-76 in the 1970s as a dedicated civil transport, drawing on Black Hawk dynamic components. It first flew in 1977 and became a long-running commercial success with around 875 built before production ended in 2022.
Variants
The family runs through the S-76A, B, C, C++ and the final S-76D, progressively re-engined with Allison, Turbomeca Arriel and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines.
Where you'll see it
It has been a key North Sea offshore type carrying crews from Aberdeen, alongside extensive VIP, head-of-state, police and SAR use. Its blend of speed and refinement made it a staple executive and oil-industry helicopter in the UK.
Related aircraft
- Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion
- Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
- Sikorsky S-92
- CH-53K King Stallion
- Bell 214ST
- Mi-26 Halo
- Mil Mi-26
- TAI/Eurocopter Cougar Mk I
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