At HAI’s Heli-Expo 2014 in Anaheim, Calif., Marenco Swisshelicopter showed off the first prototype of its SKYe SH09 light-single helicopter. For the past three Heli-Expos, the company has brought mock-ups of the new aircraft, so this year was a treat for potential customers who were able see the real aircraft up close and personal.
Marenco Swisshelicopter rolled out the eight-seat prototype at an event in November.
“The P1 roll-out was a special day for us, not only for the usual reasons, but also to give our whole team a boost,” Mathias Senes, the company’s chief commercial officer, told Vertical. “Our group of 85 – many [of whom] work on small pieces of the project – finally saw their work materialize into a final project; they saw the big picture.”
Marenco Swisshelicopter has since been testing all components of the SKYe SH09, leading up to a first flight expected shortly, with certification set to support a first delivery in the fourth quarter of 2015.
In the above video, Vertical had the opportunity to speak with Senes to discuss the features in the aircraft, and get an update on the program’s progress.
