Airbus Helicopters has completed a four-month flight-test campaign in the United States for its new H140. The twin-engine helicopter was tested in temperatures exceeding 45°C and at altitudes above 13,000 feet. The manufacturer is working towards certification and first customer deliveries in 2028.
The campaign ran from 13 June to 8 October and covered three locations in the American Southwest and Rocky Mountains. Engineers recorded more than 130 flight hours and completed over 800 landings. The work gathered performance data to support certification and establish the helicopter’s approved operating envelope.
Testing began in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where temperatures reached 45°C and above during June and July. The aircraft then went to Leadville, Colorado, where the airport is approximately 10,000 feet above sea level. Tests also took place around Mount Pennsylvania at altitudes exceeding 13,000 feet. A third phase in Albuquerque, New Mexico, included testing at density altitudes of around 7,000 to 9,000 feet.
Engineers examined hovering, takeoffs and landings under demanding combinations of altitude and payload. The campaign covered hot and high-altitude conditions relevant to establishing aircraft performance data. High temperatures reduce air density, affecting engine performance and the lift produced by rotor blades. Data from the tests are intended to support certification and define the H140’s approved operating envelope.
