Sikorsky Claims Civil Presence, Soon Will Have Two Civil Helos

Sikorsky Aircraft is promoting the latest augmented version of its S-76 helicopter, the S-76C+, and has brought a cabin section of its larger S-92 to this week's December NBAA show.

The first S-92 in final production configuration, with glass cockpit from Rockwell Collins, made its maiden flight in Stratford, Conn. early in October.

"This is the ideal 19-passenger airliner for feeder service and some direct point-to-point applications," says Sikorsky Aircraft civil programs VP Tommy Thomason. The S-92 will be Sikorsky's flagship, able to seat up to 19 passengers.

The United Technologies company expects FAA certification at the end of 2002, with deliveries to start shortly thereafter.

The S-92 will be priced at $15.5 million, or $16 million and up with high-end executive outfitting.

Sikorsky is talking operating costs under $900 per hour, thanks in part to a Goodrich HUMS (health and usage monitoring system) that's to be standard equipment. Twin CT7-8 turboshafts from General Electric will propel the S-92 at upwards of 150 knots as far as 400 nautical miles.

Thomason pegs the overall market at more than 1,000 S-92s, with about a third expected to go to civilian operators. Canada's Cougar Helicopters is Sikorsky's lead S-92 customer. Nick Lappos is S-92 program director.

Sikorsky is honing plans to update its classic S-76, of which some 500 have been built, and placed with customers in 44 countries. S-76 enhancements draw on technologies developed for the S-92 and for Sikorsky's military machines. Among the possibilities:

• Turbomeca Arriel 2S2s with about 6% more power than the current 2S1 engine, boosting performance and helping ensure engines remain in service until the TBO limit;
• Integrated cockpit with flat panel LCDs and digital data bus architecture;
• Quiet tail rotor design with swept-tip airfoil; and
• Active vibration/noise control and a low-noise main transmission with gear designs from the RAH-64 Comanche.

Already in train is production of the S-76C+ fuselage by Aero Vodochody of the Czech Republic. The first was delivered to Sikorsky in Connecticut at the beginning of the year, and later delivered to a customer following VIP completion.

By Rich Piellisch