Sikorsky S-58ET

Sikorsky S-61N

G-CFDV Sikorsky S-76C++ c/n 760666 - Bristow Helicopters - Den Helder Airport in Holland - 11 July 2009

The Sikorsky S-76 Spirit is a twin-engine medium utility helicopter that can accommodate a basic crew of two and up to 13 passengers. The S-76 helicopter is mainly used for cargo and passenger transport to oil platforms, in V.I.P. version and emergency. In 1975, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation started with the development of the Sikorsky S76 medium lift helicopter for the offshore/ oil support sector, based on the military S70 Black Hawk program. The first prototype S-76A, powered by two Allison 250C30S turbo shafts, flew on 13 March 1977. Deliveries of the production model started in 1979 after FAA certification was awarded in November 1978. 284 Sikorsky S-76A helicopters were manufactured, a large number were modified to S-76A+. The Sikorsky S-76B with the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B engines was flown first on 22 June 1984. Deliveries started in 1987 and the final S-76B was delivered in December 1997, with 101 S-76Bs built. In June 1989, the Model S-76C, fitted with Turboméca Arriel 1S1 engines, was announced. The Sikorsky S-76C flew first on 18 May 1990 and FAA certification was achieved in April 1991. The Sikorsky S-76C++ helicopter was the version in production until 2011. Its main feature is the Arriel engine, which gives excellent single-engine performance as well as good range. In 2011, with aircraft number 882, the last S-76C++ closed out that production progam. The latest development of the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter is the S-76D. The S-76D helicopter features all-composite main rotor blades, Pratt & Whitney PW210S engines and Thales TopDeck avionics. FAA approved Type Certification for the S-76D helicopter on 12 October 2012. Until 2011, Keystone / Sikorsky built over 880 S-76 helicopters in various models. The Sikorsky S-76D helicopter is the version currently in production.

On 25 February 2008, the 2007-built Sikorsky S-76C++ c/n 760666 was registered G-CFDV in the UK with Bristow Helicopters Ltd., Aberdeen. Before the aircraft entered service with Bristow, the Sikorsky was registered N45140 in the US with Air Logistics, New Iberia (LO), USA. When photographed, the G-CFDV was operated by Bristow out of Den Helder Airport in the Netherlands.

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