With firm orders for 12 of its new SKYe SH09 rotorcraft in hand and letters of interest for about 100 more, Marenco Swiss Helicopters recently began flying its third prototype and anticipates adding a fourth to the certification program in early 2018.
Prototype P2 has already logged more than 50 flight hours and the rotor system has been turning for more than 100 hr.
Near-term plans also call for a new, 40,900-sq.-ft. production facility in Mollis, Switzerland, and relocation of the engineering facility to a new center in Wetzikon, Switzerland. Both sites are located near Zurich. A second production facility is located in Naefels, Switzerland, about 60 mi. southeast of Zurich. Following modernization and reconstruction as a logistics center, it will also serve as a site for cell structure and rotor blade production.
With the increased activity, its number of employees has grown to 213 from 135 — mainly highly specialized and qualified engineers.
The $3.5 million, multirole SKYe is a single-engine helicopter powered by Honeywell’s HTS900-2 turbine. It is designed for 5-8 passengers and is expected to have a cruise speed of 145 kt. and a range in excess of 430 nm.