Could 4 - 10 be ground-test vehicles for various segments of the test programme that will help achieve certification? One is probably a fully-completed static test vehicle for ground-running only, destined never to fly. A few other vehicles might comprise a completed fuselage and interior and be used for destructive testing, examining the landing gear and seats in a hard landing/crash scenario. Even so, seven seems like a high number of airframes for use solely in the ground-testing portion of the certification process. It is doubtful that any mock-ups for the likes of Heli-Expo are assigned a production number.
Does anyone know how many airframes, flying and static, are required to get an aircraft like the 505 certificated?
500 Fan.
Last edited by 500 Fan; 12th Feb 2017 at 11:07.