Marenco Swisshelicopter is continuing the development of its all-composite SKYe SH09 helicopter. While the Mollis, Switzerland-based company had hoped to be producing the model by now, this may take several more years to achieve.
Marenco Swisshelicopter is making progress however. First flight for the SH09 was carried out in October 2014 and the aircraft flew several test missions until early 2015 when full flight test envelope testing was conducted in March, including horizontal and reverse flight.
A Marenco representative described the flight characteristics as “remarkable” and the team was impressed with the helicopter’s quietness. However, the flight test program was put on hold “due to the limited resources of the team.” Instead the team has focused on making improvements and developing the second prototype (P2). Improvements made to P2 will be retrofitted to the first prototype before flight testing resumes.
Development plans also call for the construction of P3, which will be the SKYe SH09 certificate-conforming prototype. The company plans to develop the infrastructure for the production assembly line this year.
February 5, 2016
