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206 van horn main rotor blades


blueskies 54

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Saw the Van Horn main rotor blades at heli expo for the 206b, great idea! Couldn't get an answer to what the performance increase would be. As in, is it just gonna be "longer life, better performance." Or will there be an actual flight manual supplement that will give you better HOGE numbers like the L model tail rotor blades? Any insider info?

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Saw the Van Horn main rotor blades at heli expo for the 206b, great idea! Couldn't get an answer to what the performance increase would be. As in, is it just gonna be "longer life, better performance." Or will there be an actual flight manual supplement that will give you better HOGE numbers like the L model tail rotor blades? Any insider info?

 

They also have the 206L model blades in development. Too bad they didn't have them 2 years ago when the AD came out and grounded half the fleet....but I digress.

 

I doubt you will see a whole bunch of new charts. They have said the new blades have improved aerodynamic characteristics, and if you look at what Van Horn has done with the tail rotor then I believe them!

 

When Robinson came out with new blades for the R22 and R44 R1 last year, all they had to say was that they would perform at LEAST as well as the previously certified blade. If the FAA doesn't require all of the new performance charts, don't expect a mfgr to go out and spend all that money testing.....unless the marketing department needs them to.

 

So bottom line, I would expect better performance, but how much better will be up to the operator to figure out. FYI, the original FAA tested numbers still stand though as the "official" performance record, as that is what was on the original aircraft when it was tested. The real benefit could be less vibration leading to less maintenance, and a more efficient airfoil leading to less power required, and hence less fuel, to do the same job.

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