Stratford’s Sikorsky Aircraft has moved closer to airworthiness testing for its S-76D executive/passenger helicopter.
The prototypes recently underwent flight testing of their avionics and electrical systems, including surviving a simulated lightning strike, the company said Friday.
Its first two of three prototypes so far have logged more than 500 flight hours. All were assembled at Sikorsky’s Coatesville, Pa., facility outside Philadelphia.
The D model is an upgraded, all-weather version of the S-76 helicopter flown since 1979.
Aircraft certification is planned for the first quarter of 2012, with first deliveries also slated for 2012.
It is targeted mainly at transporting executives and offshore oil workers, and for use as emergency medical transport.
Sikorsky is a division of United Technologies Corp. based in Hartford.
