The S-70 is a commercial version of one of Sikorsky’s most successful helicopters, the UH-60. The UH-60 was designed in response to a US Army competition in the early 1970’s for a replacement of the UH-1 “Huey”. Sikorsky won this competition in 1976 and has designed and built versions of this helicopter for every branch of the US Armed Forces, the US Coast Guard and numerous foreign armed forces. To date well over 2000 have been delivered.
The S-70A and S-70C are basically identical. The difference is that the S-70A is intended for FMS (Foreign Military Sales) customers, while the S-70C is intended for non-FMS customers. Both are the civil equivalent of the UH-60A for deliveries prior to 1989 and the UH-60L after that year. The UH-60L is the current production version of this helicopter for the US Army.
The S-70 is a heavy twin-engine turbine helicopter that uses a four-bladed fully articulated main rotor head with elastomeric bearings. A bifilar vibration absorber, mounted above the rotor head is used to decrease vibration levels. The S-70 A/C uses two General Electric CT7-2C engines. A four-bladed tail rotor provides directional control. Both the main rotor blades and the tail rotor blades have a titanium main spar with a
Nomex honeycomb airfoil shape and fiberglass outer cover. The fuselage provides one large compartment. Up front there are seats for three crew (two pilots and a crew chief) and behind them is space for 11 troops in battle gear or up to 20 seats in a high-density utility configuration. Alternatively, the cabin can be configured for VIP use with 6 to 9 seats or as an EMS medivac ship with up to six stretchers. The fuselage contains extensive Kevlar and honeycomb components. A fixed, wheeled main landing gear is used in combination with a tail wheel.
VFR certification in the Restricted Category (FAR 21.25) is the only certification available. This was obtained in 1983. The aircraft is in production.
