The third S-76D prototype “recently” made its first flight, Sikorsky has announced, with the helicopter to serve as the primary vehicle for avionics and electrical system certification for the S-76D program.
Dubbed ‘D3’, the third Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S powered S-76D prototype will begin certification testing during the fourth quarter of this year, alongside S-76D development machines D1 and D2.
The S-76D flight test program has achieved more than 500 flight hours to-date. Certification is planned for the first quarter of 2012.
