Personal and charter jets are well-known, but luxury helicopters are true rarities.
Not only are helicopters less costly than jets, but they can also go to locations where bulky planes can’t.
A private or commercial helicopter is convenient, environmentally beneficial, and a prestige symbol.
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Luxury helicopter is owned by celebrities like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, as well as Donald Trump, and the slot market has risen significantly in recent years because of the high demand from the wealthy.
They are well-equipped with the most up-to-date technologies and interior seats with excellent Italian leather upholstery.
Sikorsky S-76C ($12.95 Million)
| Role | Utility helicopter |
|---|---|
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft |
| First flight | March 13, 1977 |
| Status | In service |
| Produced | 1977–present |
The Sikorsky S-76 is a medium-sized commercial utility helicopter produced by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in the United States.
Twin turboshaft engines, four-bladed main and tail rotors, and retractable landing gear are all elements of the S-76.
The S-76 was first developed as the S-74 in the mid-1970s, with the purpose of delivering a medium helicopter for business transportation and the oil drilling sector; the S-74 was eventually renamed the S-76 in celebration of the United States bicentennial.
The S-76 incorporates S-70 design technology in its rotor blades and rotor heads, as well as Sikorsky’s design work on the S-70 helicopter (which was selected for deployment by the United States Army as the UH-60 Black Hawk).
It was the first Sikorsky helicopter built for commercial rather than military purposes.
History of operations In 1995, Australian adventurer Dick Smith piloted the S-76, the first helicopter to round the globe in an east-west path.
Bell 525 Relentless ($15 million)
| Role | Medium-lift utility helicopter |
|---|---|
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Bell Textron |
| First flight | 1 July 2015 |
| Status | Under development |
| Produced | 2015–present |
Bell Textron is developing the Bell 525 Relentless, an American medium-lift helicopter. In February 2012, the Bell 525 debuted at the 2012 Heli-Expo in Dallas, Texas.
The helicopter took to the air for the first time on July 1, 2015. It has the capacity to transport up to 19 people.
The Bell 525 was supposed to make its first flight in late 2014. PHI, Inc. was the type’s first customer, however, as of 2016, it is no longer the type’s first customer.
The Bell 525 prototype flew for the first time in July 2015, after a six-month delay.
Bell forecasted that certification will be achieved by the end of 2017.
In May 2016, the FAA proposed special rules to address the fly-by-wire idea.
The Bell 525 is a medium-lift helicopter intended to suit a need. It will be the first commercial helicopter to use fly-by-wire flying controls with tactile indications, and it will be made mostly of composites and aluminum.
The system has three levels of redundancy and was built in two simulated settings. The GE CT7-2F1 turboshaft engines power the 525, which has a novel composite five-blade main rotor system.
Crash in July of 2016 The 2016 Bell 525 Relentless prototype was involved in a crash.
On July 6, 2016, at around 11:48 a.m. CDT, the prototype crashed during a test flight near Italy, Texas, killing both passengers.
The plane, N525TA, broke up in mid-flight while traveling at a speed of around 229 mph (199 kph) and an altitude of about 2,000 feet (610 m).
Certification was postponed from 2017 to 2018. Bell projected in February 2018 that certification will be achieved by late 2018 or early 2019.
In December 2018, 1,300 hours of turn time and 900 hours of flight were amassed in preparation for type certification in the United States in 2019.
Two helicopters will be tested in freezing weather in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, in early 2019, while a third prototype will be tested in the frigid north continental United States.
Airbus AS332 L1e VIP Super Puma ($15.5 million)
| Role | Medium utility helicopter |
|---|---|
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale Eurocopter Airbus Helicopters |
| First flight | 13 September 1978 |
| Status | In service |
| Produced | 1978–present |
The Airbus Helicopters H215 (previously Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma) is a four-bladed, twin-engine medium-size utility helicopter that was designed and sold by Aérospatiale, then Eurocopter, and now Airbus Helicopters.
The original Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma has been re-engineered to be more voluminous. The Super Puma, which first flew in 1978, replaced the SA 330 Puma as the type’s principal production model in 1980.
The AS532 Cougar designation has been applied to Super Pumas in military service since 1990.
In 2004, the Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma was unveiled as a next-generation successor to the AS 332 in civilian service.
Aérospatiale began work on a new medium transport helicopter based on the SA 330 Puma in 1974.
The idea was first announced in 1975 during the Paris Air Show.
While the new design had a similar generator structure to the previous AS 330 it was powered by two Turbomeca Makila turboshaft engines, which drove a four-bladed main rotor built of composite materials.
The new model was given a lot of thought in order to make it more resistant to harm.
The rotor blades as well as the other important mechanical systems throughout the rotorcraft can withstand a level of battle damage thanks to a more robust fuselage construction and a redesigned crashworthy undercarriage.
The older SA 330 Puma had been superseded as Aerospatiale’s primary utility helicopter by the AS 332 Super Puma in 1980.
The AS 332 Super Puma was a huge hit to the public. Between July 1981 and April 1987 three helicopters were manufactured every month on average for customers both military and civilian.
Indonesian Aerospace (IPTN) has also produced the SA 330 and AS 332 for domestic and international customers under license from Aerospatiale.
History of operations
The helicopter used to transport Brazil’s President is designated VH-34 by the Brazilian Air Force. The primary presidential helicopters were two modified Super Pumas, which could transport up to fifteen passengers and three crew members.
The VH-34 was gradually augmented and then superseded by the VH-36, which became the EC725.
François Mitterrand and other French presidents have utilized military Super Pumas as official transport during diplomatic travels.
During a trip to Iraq in 2008, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was flown in a Super Puma.
The French government established the Force d’Action Rapide in August 1983 to support France’s allies as well as contribute to France’s overseas activities in Africa and the Middle East.
The task force included up to 30 Super Pumas. In June 1994 France dispatched a military task force to neighbor Zaire to intervene in the unfolding Rwandan genocide;
Super Pumas provided the bulk of the task force’s rotary lift capabilities, transporting French troops and equipment during their advance into Rwanda.
By 2015, military customers had reportedly placed orders for 187 Super Pumas, including 29 for Argentina, 30 for Spain, 33 for Indonesia, 22 for Singapore, and 12 for Greece.
Sikorsky S-92 ($17.7 Million)
| Role | Medium-lift transport/utility helicopter |
|---|---|
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft |
| First flight | December 23, 1998 |
| Status | In service |
| Produced | 1998–present |
The Sikorsky S-92 is a twin-engine medium-lift helicopter produced by Sikorsky Aircraft for both civil and military use.
The S-92 is based on the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter and has many of the same components such as flight control and rotor systems.
The H-92 Superhawk is a military variant of the S-92 that can transport 22 personnel in a utility transport role.
The H-92 may also be customized for particular purposes such as search and rescue and executive transport.
The CH-148 Cyclone is a shipboard marine helicopter built for the Royal Canadian Air Force to support the Royal Canadian Navy’s naval operations.
The Sikorsky VH-92 is a version under development to replace the Marine One U.S. Presidential transport fleet of the United States Marine Corps.
History of operations
In the United States, Sikorsky introduced a search and rescue model of the H-92. Beginning in 2006, the Air Force’s CSAR-X combat search and rescue competition.
The AgustaWestland EH101 and HH-47 were its main opponents, however by December 2012, all other manufacturers had pulled out.
Sikorsky is expected to submit a bid for a version of its MH-60 special operations helicopter, according to Flight International magazine.
An open competition was held after Sikorsky successfully challenged the preferred supplier status of NHIndustries NH90 for the Nordic Standard Helicopter Program in court.
The S-92 was submitted as a contender for the Norwegian All-Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter (NAWSARH), which will replace the Royal Norwegian Air Force Westland Sea King Mk.43B in 2015.
The AgustaWestland AW101, Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, Eurocopter EC225, and NHIndustries NH90 were the other contenders for the NAWSARH contract of 10 to 12 helicopters.
In 2012, the V-22 was retired from competition. In July 2013, the S-92 was dropped from the competition, and AgustaWestland was awarded a contract for 16 AW101s.
For the UK Search and Rescue – Helicopter (SAR-H) program, the S-92 competed against the Eurocopter EC225.
The UK chose the S-92 in February 2010 as part of a £6 billion agreement to replace 40 Sea King search and rescue helicopters with 25 to 30 S-92s.
It was then reported that the favored supplier, Soteria, would not be employed owing to bid irregularities.
Following that, the UK government chose a smaller £2.5 billion deal with the Bristow Group to operate 11 S-92s (and 11 AW189s) from ten locations.
Beginning in 2012, the Irish Coast Guard replaced its Sikorsky S-61N fleet with the S-92. CHC Helicopter is in charge of the aircraft.
Following the fatal crash of a Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma contracted by Statoil in 2016, the company announced that it would no longer use that type and would instead use the Sikorsky S-92 to meet its needs, requiring that operators it contracts with, such as CHC Helikopter Service, use the Sikorsky S-92.
AgustaWestland AW101 ($21 Million)
| Role | Executive transport helicopter |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin AgustaWestland Bell Helicopter (assembly) |
| First flight | 3 July 2007 |
| Status | Canceled |
The Sikorsky S-92 is a twin-engine medium-lift helicopter produced by Sikorsky Aircraft for both civil and military use.
The S-92 is based on the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter and has many of the same components, such as flight control and rotor systems.
The H-92 Superhawk is a military variant of the S-92 that can transport 22 personnel in a utility transport role.
The H-92 may also be customized for particular purposes such as search and rescue and executive transport.
The CH-148 Cyclone is a shipboard marine helicopter built for the Royal Canadian Air Force to support the Royal Canadian Navy’s naval operations.
The Sikorsky VH-92 is a version under development to replace the Marine One U.S. Presidential transport fleet of the United States Marine Corps.
Prior to 2007, the plane was sold under the EH101 designation.
The initial designation was EHI 01, after the Anglo-Italian joint venture European Helicopter Industries, but this was modified to EH101 due to a transcribing error.
AgustaWestland was formed in 2000 when Westland Helicopters and Agusta amalgamated to establish AgustaWestland, giving the type its present name.
The AW101 entered service in 1999, replacing previous helicopters such as the Sikorsky Sea King in duties such as medium-sized transport, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and ship-based utility missions.
For air-sea rescue, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) uses the CH-149 Cormorant version.
Before the program was discontinued and the aircraft auctioned off, another derivative, the Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel, was built to serve in the US presidential transport fleet.
The AW101 is used by civil operators to transport passengers and VIPs. The type has been used in active combat zones, such as in support of coalition forces during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
History of operations
The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom placed a definitive order for 44 ASW aircraft, first dubbed Merlin HAS.1 (Helicopter, Anti-Submarine Mark 1) but later renamed Merlin HM1 (Helicopter, Maritime Mark 1).
On May 17, 1997, the first completely functioning Merlin was delivered, and it entered service on June 2, 2000.
The Navy Merlins were temporarily grounded in March 2004 after a tail rotor failed due to a manufacturing issue at RNAS Culdrose.
On most AW101s, an upgraded tail rotor was designed and implemented, resulting in substantial maintenance savings.
Airbus H225 Super Puma ($27 million)
| Role | Passenger transport helicopter |
|---|---|
| National origin | Multinational |
| Manufacturer | Eurocoptera Airbus Helicopters |
| First flight | 27 November 2000 |
| Produced | 1999–present |
The AgustaWestland AW101 is a military and civilian medium-lift helicopter.
It was designed by a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the UK and Agusta in Italy in answer to national requirements for a contemporary naval utility helicopter and first flew in 1987.
Merlin is the designation given to the AW101 aircraft by several operators, notably the military forces of the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Portugal.
It’s made at factories in Yeovil, England, and Vergiate, Italy, with licensed assembly work done in Japan and the United States as well.
Prior to 2007, the plane was sold under the EH101 designation.
The initial designation was EHI 01, after the Anglo-Italian joint venture European Helicopter Industries, but this was modified to EH101 due to a transcribing error.
AgustaWestland was formed in 2000 when Westland Helicopters and Agusta amalgamated to establish AgustaWestland, giving the type its present name.
The AW101 entered service in 1999, replacing previous helicopters such as the Sikorsky Sea King in duties such as medium-sized transport, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and ship-based utility missions.
For air-sea rescue, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) uses the CH-149 Cormorant version.
Before the program was discontinued and the aircraft auctioned off, another derivative, the Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel, was built to serve in the US presidential transport fleet.
The AW101 is used by civil operators to transport passengers and VIPs. The type has been used in active combat zones, such as in support of coalition forces during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
