Sikorsky is confident its upgraded medium-twin helicopter, the S-76D, will make its first flight in the fourth quarter of next year, vice president Europe Bruce McKinney said here at the show during a press conference on Monday. The program’s schedule slipped at some point because of resources being reallocated to the military CH-53K but the S-76D program is now fully staffed, McKinney told Aviation International News.
Sikorsky engineers are building the all-composite blades for the main rotor. It will feature an anti-ice protection system, derived from that of the bigger S-92. In addition, Pratt & Whitney Canada has been running its PW210S turboshaft engine, which has been designed for the new helicopter version. Three development engines have logged some 200 hours in ground tests. Wind tunnel tests have been performed to check engine inlet icing. Overall S-76 aerodynamics were tried in the tunnel, too.
