PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Sikorsky S-76: Ask Nick Lappos
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Old 8th Oct 2006, 23:02
  #880 (permalink)  
Gomer Pylot
 
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Bell is so far behind they will never catch up. A 412 will carry more payload (slightly) than an S76 for about 50 miles, but beyond that it's no contest. The 412 uses 33% more fuel to go about 75% as far, and has less fuel capacity, in terms of time. The 412 is as rough a ride as you will ever find in a helicopter, even with all those weights on the head. It starts out with the blades out of plane, and just gets worse. It's not possible to really track it, you just get it to an acceptable ride, where acceptable is anything that doesn't shake your teeth out. It has almost no baggage capacity, unless you use the side-facing seats, which gives you a 9 passenger helicopter. The gross weight has been increased so much that it barely gets off the deck, never mind PC2 performance. It's mid-last-century technology, poorly executed. Every pilot I know who flies the 412 and the S76 does everything possible to stay out of the 412, and whines continually as long as he is in it. There isn't even any competition - Bell has abandoned any effort to stay in the game. It bet everything on the tilt rotor, and it appears it lost.
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