Rotorcraft
Sikorsky S-76D Demo Flight Proves Performance Boost
“This aircraft wants to get up and fly because of its power and the blades,” high-time Sikorsky pilot Ray Altieri commented.
AIN contributing editor R. Randall Padfield, a rated helicopter pilot, flew the new Sikorsky S-76D on a half-hour demo flight at Heli-Expo 2015. (Photo: Mariano Rosales)
AIN contributing editor R. Randall Padfield, a rated helicopter pilot, flew the new Sikorsky S-76D on a half-hour demo flight at Heli-Expo 2015. (Photo: Mariano Rosales)

With the S-76D certified by the FAA on October 12 last year and by EASA just five days ago, Sikorsky is busily giving demonstration flights in this latest evolution of the popular S-76 at Heli-Expo 2015 this week in Orlando, Fla. AIN was fortunate to have a videographer and this writer–a rated helicopter pilot–on the last flight of 13 sorties on Tuesday.