Sikorsky S-61N

31-occupant turbine helicopter · Private helicopters · in production 1962-1980 · See its reach on the 3D globe

Indicative 1971 market price€1.93m to €2.31m

Estimated annual cost at 80 h€543k

Five-year cash outlay€4.81m

Key figures

Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.

Seats	31
Reported payload proxy	2610 kg
Reported range	260 nm
Practical planning radius (4 people)	Not used for mission ranking
Cruise speed	115 kt
Runway need	Vertical
Pressurised	No
Fuel	Jet A-1
Fixed annual base	€126k
Direct cost per flight hour	€3800

The ownership trade-off

The S-61N combines 31-seat helicopter capability with about 260 NM reported range and about 115 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.

Cost picture at different usage

40 hours/year: about €391k per year ( €9763 per flight hour all-in)
80 hours/year: about €543k per year ( €6781 per flight hour all-in)
120 hours/year: about €695k per year ( €5788 per flight hour all-in)
180 hours/year: about €923k per year ( €5125 per flight hour all-in)

Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at €443k per year at 80 hours. Condition, engine time remaining and avionics matter more than the year itself, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model.

Where it fits well

115 kt cruise supports efficient local and regional flying.
260 nm reported range is retained for profile context, but PlaneFit does not use it for mission ranking yet.
2610 kg reported payload proxy and 31 seats define the cabin context pending source-level normalization.

Limitations to price honestly

The S-61N combines 31-seat helicopter capability with about 260 NM reported range and about 115 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
€126k fixed annual planning base before flying a single hour.
Component life and mission-specific landing permissions dominate real-world utility.

Recommended missions

Family and small-group touring with a weight-and-balance check for every trip.
Short and medium regional trips, accepting fuel stops when conditions require.
Recreational, training or personal travel where operating efficiency is more important than airline-like speed.