S-76 Variants

[Heli-Ops]

With so many versions of the S-76 out there I was wondering what the advantages and disadvantages of each are.

 

Heli Ops

[Eric Hunt]

Wow! 2 months and not a bite... not many Tchaikovsky users out there?

 

We operate an S76-B.

 

Good things are: Heaps of power with PT6, 1033 HP per side

Fadec - removes those finger problems and looks after hot starts, looks after torque matching or T5 matching.

Dual digital autopilots - flies it better than I can, except in turbulence.

UNS-1 FMS , looks after navigation for me. Plus 2 more GPS for extra info

Extras like air con, extra soundproofing, ANR headsets (Sennheiser or Alzheimer or something - I can't remember...)

Glass screens for AI and HSI

Sat phone

 

Bad things are: No more room on the panel for any more toys

Engines suck the fuel @700 lb/hr

Endurance is only 2 hr 20 min to dry tanks

CG is a long way back.

 

By comparison, the A+ I learned on is a dog, steam-driven gauges, clockwork panel, spend all bluddy day twiddling the beep switches trying to match torques, sadly lacking in grunt.

[Heli-Ops]

Eric

 

Is that S76 the privately owned Hunter Valley located machine.

 

Heli Ops

[Eric Hunt]

Why do you ask, Two Dogs?

Isn't this forum anonymous?

[Heli-Ops]

Eric

 

Forum is. Just curious thats all.

 

By the way how is NR doing after his op.

 

Heli Ops

[Eric Hunt]

"By the way how is NR doing after his op."

 

??

 

NR always operates at 107%.

 

I love trick questions.

[nardoo]

Or perhaps you are located out of Townsville?  come on....fess up ???

[Eric Hunt]

Well, if "Out of Townsville" means "Not in Townsville", then you've got me narrowed down to 99.998% of the rest of Australia - geez, you guys are good! I'd better not answer any more questions because you are getting too close.

[GLSNightPilot]

I just finally found this forum, don't know why it has been hiding from me.   :cool:

 

The good things about the S76A:  well, it's faster than a Bell.

However, the engines are seriously lacking in power & reliability.

 

S76A++:  Not much bad I can think of.  The torques do move around, but even if they split there's still plenty of power.  With the A++, we just pull pitch & go, even a max gross in the summer.  Much of the time, the first limit is Vne.  We finally have something that can haul good loads way offshore to the deep water.  600lb/hr on the fuel if you're in a hurry, & a plannable speed of 140kts.  All our A models are being converted to A++, & should be finished this spring.  We have one C+ with the digital gauges, & it's very nice, but very expensive.  Hard to sell because of the cost, which is higher than a 214ST.