Sikorsky and Milestone Aviation Group are displaying the first ever S-92 to enter commercial service at VERTICON 2026.
The aircraft is operated under a lease by Milestone and first entered service in September 2004, flying offshore energy support in the Gulf of Mexico in its first life, followed by several years of firefighting in Canada with VIH. Overall, this particular S-92 has flown 15,600 flight hours of its 30,000-hour lifespan.
“The evolution of this S-92 stands as a clear demonstration of the value of the operating lease model in supporting the transition of aircraft through their natural lifecycle,” said Pat Sheedy, President & Chief Executive Officer, Milestone. “Milestone is delighted to have partnered with Helitak Firefighting Equipment and VIH on this project, and we are pleased to see the life of 920006 continue strongly into the future.”
Only a few days ago, Sikorsky revealed that production of the S-92 has restarted in response to demand for new examples of the heavy twin – with an initial production run of five aircraft, which it expects to scale up to an annual production total of 12 aircraft a year.
“Congratulations to Milestone and VIH for their leadership to find a critical secondary role for older S-92 aircraft,” commented Leon Silva, Vice President, Sikorsky Commercial Helicopters. “As an aerial firefighter, aircraft 920006 and others like it can protect lives and property from wildfires for the next 25 years. Sikorsky stands solidly behind the global S-92 fleet with sustainment and diagnostic knowledge learned from 2.6 million fleet flight hours and climbing.”
“The S-92 has demonstrated outstanding capability and reliability across our operations,” added Ken Norie, President of VIH Helicopters. “Its performance and mission adaptability enabled a seamless transition into the Fire Raptor configuration and supported a highly successful and demanding firefighting season. The ongoing support provided by Sikorsky has been critical to sustaining exceptional serviceability and ensuring the aircraft consistently delivers top-tier performance.”
Photo: Milestone Aviation Group
