Marenco Swisshelicopter is making tweaks to the main rotor hub of its SH-09 light-single based on data from flight tests that began last October.
The design changes will be applied to the second flight-test aircraft now in assembly, Martin Stucki, chief executive of the Zurich-based start-up manufacturer, tells Flightglobal at the HAI Heli-Expo show.
In the current design, the flight tests reveal excessive friction in the main rotor hub that could eventually reduce the service life of the aircraft.
Marenco completed first flight of the 2.5t-class helicopter in October.
The five-bladed SH-09 is scheduled to complete type certification with the European Aviation Safety Agency within 12 months.
Marenco also announced that the Sagem ICDS-8A glass cockpit suite will be offered as the standard avionics package for the SH-09.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
