Spanish Spirits earn a second life
February 3, 2025
After more than 30 years with Ala 78’s 781 Escuadrón at Granada/Armilla, the S-76Cs (known as the HE.24 in Ejército del Aire y del Espacio service) are being replaced in the pilot training role by the Airbus Helicopters H135 (HE.26). The first S-76s were delivered to Armilla in November 1991, and have served the Air Force helicopter school for three decades, accumulating more than 650,000 flying hours. The pilot training role is now the responsibility of the H135M twin-engined light utility helicopter, the first of which was delivered in June 2023.
Some of the eight surviving S-76Cs are being transferred to 801 Escuadrón, part of Ala 49 at Mallorca/Son San Juan, where they will operate in the search and rescue (SAR) role, alongside the CN235-100MSA (D.4) and AS332B/B1/C1 (HD.21/HT.21). The precise number of S-76Cs to be transferred has not yet been decided, but a new designation – HD.24 – has been assigned.
