January 24, 2016 - Greifensee
Within a matter of four years, the first helicopter rolled off Marenco Swisshelicopter AG's production line. Weighing technology is helping to keep its operating costs to a minimum.
It was a process that ramped up from 0 to 100 in just four years— from the first brainstorming session right through to the finished prototype and successful test flight. The outcome was a lightweight, turbine-powered helicopter featuring a carbon cell, developed by Marenco Swisshelicopter AG based in Glarus Nord, Switzerland. The Marenco Swisshelicopter SKYe SH09 features a state-of-the-art glass cockpit, outstanding flight performance and low operating costs.
The Center of Gravity Matters
During its cooperation with METTLER TOLEDO on the project, Marenco Swisshelicopter AG was particularly focused on using cutting-edge weighing technology to develop a portable system for determining the helicopter's center of gravity. The center of gravity is a crucial factor because the center of gravity affects the stress exerted on wearing parts, such as the rotor head. Therefore, it has a huge impact on the helicopter's operating costs. In addition, it influences the steering properties and fuel consumption considerablely.
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By introducing a customized solution, METTLER TOLEDO was able to play a significant role in ensuring low operating costs and outstanding flight comfort. To enable precise calculation of the center of gravity, a weighing system, featuring four SWB505 MultiMount™ weighing modules, measures the weight at four points under the helicopter's skids.
The entire application was brought to life in line with the customer's requirements on the graphics-capable IND890 terminal with touchscreen, enabling operation that is simple, convenient and fast. To ensure precise taring for the helicopter, the center of gravity is consistently calculated in both the X and Y directions, and the distance to the nearest weighing point is represented visually by cross hairs.
Helicopter from Switzerland
Marenco Swisshelicopter AG was founded in 2007 by a team of aviation experts with a vision: to develop and bring to life a lightweight, turbine-powered helicopter weighing up to 3.175 metric tons. Now, the Swisshelicopter SKYe SH09 is set to launch on the market at the end of 2016. Its bearing-free, five-blade main rotor, featuring an internal control linkage and a shrouded anti-torque tail rotor, makes the helicopter exceptionally quiet. The MultiMount™ weigh modules help identify the center of gravity with precision, keeping down the costs associated with wear and improving handling qualities.
