Kopter's SH09 helicopter flight envelope has expanded up to 10,000 feet altitude and up to a speed of 135 kts following recent test flying. In March Kopter transferred its third prototype (P3) together with a team composed of 20 flight test engineers, pilots and mechanics to Sicily to set up an additional flight test base in Pozzallo.

Pozzallo provides the ideal operational conditions to conduct the intensive flight test campaign needed to achieve the SH09's certification. It offers very limited restrictions and favourable weather conditions throughout the year, while giving the opportunity to experience a demanding climate with hot temperatures, high humidity, strong winds and a salty atmosphere.

Since its arrival and over a period of two months, the flight test crew performed 34 flights with P3, allowing the aircraft to reach around 100 flight test hours. In this timeframe, the first major inspection has been carried out successfully.

During all flights, Kopter reports that P3 performed as expected and generated a large volume of valuable data that is being used to finalise the design of the serial production SH09.

The next phase of the flight test campaign, after the implementation of some aerodynamic refinements to further improve P3's handling qualities and the retrofit of the main gear box housing, will see P3 going higher, faster and further. It will allow the gathering of the remaining data needed to finalise the configuration of pre-series aircraft PS4 and PS5, which will contribute to the certification flights in 2020.