H145 high altitude trials in Chile
High altitude flight campaign of H145 in Chile
27 June 2019
The prototype of the five-bladed H145, which Airbus Helicopters unveiled at Heli-Expo in Atlanta last March, has just arrived in Chile where the aircraft will start a high altitude flight campaign. EASA certification is expected in early 2020, with deliveries following later that year.
The new H145 is ready to take on the Andes, with altitudes up to 20,000 feet above sea level, after having already performed some altitude tests in the French Pyrenees during the summer of 2018, Airbus Helicopters said. The objective of this campaign is to expand the flight envelope of the new helicopter and demonstrate its capabilities at high altitudes.
The flight campaign will provide some operators with the opportunity to fly the new version and experience first-hand the improvements brought by the new five-bladed rotor – an increased useful load of 150 kg, according to Airbus Helicopters.
It said the H145’s new five-bladed rotor brings a significant increase in overall performance, with a maximum take-off weight raised to 3,800 kg and a useful load now equivalent to the aircraft’s empty weight. It added the simplicity of the new bearing-less main rotor design will also ease maintenance operations, further improving the benchmark serviceability and reliability of the H145, while improving ride comfort for both passengers and crew. The reduced rotor diameter will allow the H145 to operate in more confined areas.