Second Aircraft Allows For Beginning Of Engine Testing For
Certification Credit
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has successfully completed the first
flight of its second S-76D helicopter. The prototype aircraft
successfully completed its initial test card during a flight on
March 19 that lasted approximately 30 minutes. The S-76D is the
latest version of the S-76 helicopter.
S-76D 2 First Flight
Sikorsky Chief Test Pilot Greg Barnes and Pilot Tom Davis
conducted the test flight at Sikorsky's Development Flight Center
in Florida. The milestone brings the second of three prototypes
into the test program.
"The first flight of D2 is extremely important to the S-76D
helicopter program as it allows us to begin testing the engines for
certification credit. The team will run D2 through a series of
rigorous tests to validate the performance of the new PW210S
engines. Having two aircraft in flight test also provides the team
more flexibility, and is critical to achieving our overall FAA
certification of the S-76D helicopter," said Jesse Bavaro, S-76D
Helicopter Deputy Program Manager.
Among the S-76D helicopter's features are all-composite,
flaw-tolerant main rotor blades; an advanced Thales avionics system
and autopilot; dual rotor speed for quiet mode operation with
active vibration control; powerful Pratt & Whitney 210S
engines; a quiet mode; and an optional Rotor Ice Protection System
(RIPS) for all-weather capability. The S-76D helicopter also will
offer an increase in useful load and extended range performance
versus the S-76C+ and S-76C++ aircraft currently fielded.
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