Marenco flies second SH09 prototype

The second Marenco SH09 second prototype – known as P2 – has flown for the first time. The helicopter took off from Mollis Airport.

Chief Test Pilot Richard Trueman was at the controls and Peter Wittwer was the Flight-Test Engineer.

Initial analysis confirms lower than industry-average noise levels from the main and tail rotor blades, due to their low tip speed. The tail rotor arrangement is known as Maestro, an acronym for MArEnco Shrouded Tail ROtor.

The first phase of test flights cover hover flights at low speeds and altitudes. This will be followed by trials confirming systems behavior and avionics accuracy, flying limited auto-rotations and stability trials.

Finally, testing will move on to handling, load survey and exploring the helicopter’s full Height Velocity curves, to confirm the safe combinations of altitude and airspeed during auto-rotational landings. With this successful achievement, Marenco Swisshelicopter confirms attaining the set milestones to reach the planning of deliveries.

Planned performance and specification numbers expect a maximum take-off weight of 2,650kg, a fast cruise speed of 260 kmh (140 knots) and a range of 800 km (430 nautical miles).

Sling load capacity is expected to be 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Various seating arrangments are being looked at up to a maximum of one pilot with seven passengers, each with individual crashworthy seats.

The Marenco SKYe SH09 is powered by a single Honeywell HTS900-2 engine with dual channel FADEC.

The company released a short video of the flight