Marenco Swisshelicopter founder Martin Stucki has unveiled his vision for a new helicopter family. The powerful, economical and safe helicopter starts as a single engine platform, the M12, that will be developed as a twin engine, M22, further along the way.

"We are developing the most spacious helicopter and implementing a multi-functional platform, something the industry has not yet seen," says Stucki.

Currently, the project is in the conceptual and financing phase.

Marenco has been in business since 1997 as a design and development engineering firm. The company offers development services for aviation, medical technology and mechanical and plant engineering. It has an in-house production facility for prototypes, pilot and small series. Probably the most complex project that Marenco helped to develop was the new development and manufacture of the SH09 helicopter under the direction of Stucki. The SH09 was subsequently sold to Leonardo and rebranded as the AW09.

Stucki and head of sales and marketing Rolf Spichtig presented the M12/M22 concept at HAI Heli-Expo and the feedback they received was consistently positive, they say.

“The industry clearly indicated that there is a lack of innovative projects in this segment in particular. Seen in this light, we have come at just the right time with our project," says Stucki. "The fair statements and comments from the experts showed us that we are in the right place with our innovative technical ideas, which makes us optimistic."

Spichtig adds: "Without financing, it won't work. We were able to make further interesting contacts at the Heli-Expo with regard to possible financing of the project, but our main task for the next few months will be to attract potential investors to this long term and lucrative business idea, which starts with the development of M12 and M22, and to get them on board. In that sense, the next few months will be groundbreaking in terms of whether we can turn the vision into reality, or whether it will remain a dream.”

The 3.5 ton class concept will have an electrical drivetrain that will be compatible with future technologies such as fuel cells and more powerful batteries. It will have variable rotor speed, with the tail rotor stopping in forward flight to achieve improved efficiency and lower noise output. And its modern turbine engine will have low fuel consumption.

Compared to eVTOL aircraft, that promise much in terms of simplified maintenance and smaller footprints,

Stucki compares his project to eVTOL aircraft that he says promise much but come with the disadvantage of large investment into software and certification, and with very high power demands in hover flight due to extremely high disc loads; it is an emerging market that still needs development, he says. His hybrid drivetrain-powered M12 and M22, however, can satisfy future demand for city air taxi operations and other new markets, but it is a simpler development of a helicopter with a push propeller to fly at higher speeds. The hybrid drivetrain simplifies the mechanics, allowing for higher redundancy and more safety in the case of an engine failure. Plus the helicopter can be flown by any helicopter pilot without the need of flight control software. Its many configurations will suit passenger, cargo, firefighting, HEMS and aerial operations.