The Sikorsky S-76 Spirit is a twin-engine medium utility helicopter that can accommodate a basic crew of two and up to 13 passengers. The Sikorsky S-76 helicopter is mainly used for cargo and passenger transport to oil platforms, in V.I.P. version and emergency. In 1975, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation started the development of the Sikorsky S-74 medium lift helicopter for the offshore/ oil support sector. The S-74 was subsequently redesignated the S-76 in honor of the U.S. Bicentennial. Sikorsky's design work on the military S-70 helicopter (selected for use by the United States Army as the UH-60 Black Hawk) was utilized in the development of the S-76, incorporating S-70 design technology in its rotor blades and rotor heads. The first prototype S-76A, powered by two Allison 250C30S turbo shafts, flew on 13 March 1977. The FAA certification (TCDS H1NE) was achieved on 21 November 1979 and deliveries started the same year. 284 Sikorsky S-76A helicopters were manufactured, a large number were modified to S-76A+. The Sikorsky S-76B with the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B engines was flown first on 22 June 1984. Deliveries started in 1987 and the final S-76B was delivered in December 1997, with 101 S-76Bs built. In June 1989, the Model S-76C, fitted with Turboméca Arriel 1S1 engines, was announced. The Sikorsky S-76C flew first on 18 May 1990 and FAA certification was achieved on 15 March 1991. The Sikorsky S-76C++ helicopter was the version in production until 2011. Its main feature is the Arriel engine, which gives excellent single-engine performance as well as good range. In 2011, with aircraft number 882, the last S-76C++ closed out that production progam. The last development of the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter was the S-76D. The S-76D helicopter featured all-composite main rotor blades, Pratt & Whitney PW210S engines and Thales TopDeck avionics. FAA approved Type Certification for the S-76D helicopter on 12 October 2012. Sikorsky delivered the first S-76D aircraft to Bristow Group, Inc. for offshore oil worker transport in December 2013. Until 2020, Keystone / Sikorsky built over 1000 S-76 helicopters in various models. The Sikorsky S-76D helicopter was the last version built. Sikorsky took the decision to end domestic production of the S-76 following an FAA mandate that all new-production helicopters be equipped with crash-resistant fuel systems.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the S-76B helicopter is S76.
On 6 November 2015, Lockheed Martin completed for $9 billion the acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft, replacing United Technologies as Sikorsky Aircraft’s parent company.

In 4 February 1987, Sikorsky S-76B Eagle s/n 760336 was registered PH-NZU in the Netherlands by KLM Helikopters BV, Schiphol-Oost. The 1986-built aircraft was mainly operated on offshore flights, first out of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, later out of Den Helder-de Kooy. On 12 October 1993, name and ownership changed to KLM/ERA Helicopters BV., Schiphol-Oost. On 28 December 1995, registration PH-NZU was cancelled as exported to the UK and the same day, the Sikorsky S-76B was registered G-UKLU with KLM ERA Helicopters (UK) Ltd. In 1998, KLM ERA Helicopters was integrated into Schreiner Northsea Helicopters BV and S-76B G-UKLU was registered with Schreiner Northsea Helicopters BV, Norwich. On 15 July 1998, registration G-UKLU was cancelled as exported to the Netherlands and the helicopter was restored as PH-NZU with Schreiner Northsea Helicopters BV, Den Helder on 16 July 1998. On 4 September 2002, Capital Aviation Services BV was registered as owner of the PH-NZU with Schreiner Northsea Helicopters as operator. In 2005, Schreiner Northsea Helicopters was integrated into CHC Helicopters and CHC Helicopters Netherlands BV, Den Helder, was registered as operator on 24 April 2006. The helicopter was stationed at Den Helder-De Kooy until 12 December 2012. That day, Sikorsky S-76B PH-NZU and PH-NZT left Den Helder by road to Zeebrugge in Belgium. From Zeebrugge harbour, the helicopters were shipped to Boundary Bay, Canada. On 16 July 2013, the CofA of Sikorsky S-76B PH-NZU expired and on 18 July 2014, registration PH-NZU was cancelled as the CofA was over a year expired. In Canada, the helicopter was stored and used for parts.
On 11 July 2009, Sikorsky S-76B PH-NZU was seen in one of the CHC Helicopters Netherlands' hangars at Den Helder Airport.

►  aeroplanes index   helicopters index   EC120 - H120 productionlist   Micro Light Aeroplanes   European Airfields ◄