Interest in R22 advanced rotor blade set

[Mtnhawker]

I am seeking input from R22 pilots owners and A&P regarding interest in use of an advanced composite rotor blade set for your unit. As an experience aero composites engineer and R22 pilot I have researched the symmetrical blade system in use and it's structural and flight characteristics. It's fatigue issues are the reason it is replaced at 2200 hours with crack inspections all during operation before that (SL 53).

An advanced blade design will reduce fatigue and offer extended life. A cambered air foil will reduce drag at high angles of attack. This will improve gross and high altitude performance. The design of the blade can also increase inertia which allows more time to enter autorotation. It can also be tailored to reduce the stalled and driven region of the rotor thus improving autorotation.

It would take about 18 months to qualify the blade through the FAA with resulting STC for use.

Please comment - thx ! Brian

[Guest pokey]

i'de be interested to see a composite main blade for the 269, you couldn't make them fast enuf

[rotornut67]

I'm sure there would be lots of interest including mine. Just keep in mind it would be pretty much dependent on the price. It's sad to say that but it's a fact and we all know it. There is a very thin margin of "profit" for a 22 being used in a training program (mainly due to HIGH insurance costs) which forces the operator to be extremely careful about costs but private owners would probably be very interested.

[Jaybee]

Helicopters use a symmetrical airfoil instead of a cambered airfoil because on a cambered airfoil the center of pressure changes with angle of attack where on the symmetrical airfoil the center of pressure changes very little. I cannot imagine how that would affect flight characteristics with large changes of center of pressure on the blades.

[Guest pokey]

take a look at the main blade on a 206, it has a camber to it, it's not an asymmetrical blade, Bell calls it a "drooped snoot" airfoil

[WolftalonID]

I would love to see the data on the design. New technology is always welcomed when performance AND safety is enhanced. Already mentioned though would be cost comparrison to existing product vs component life.

[pilot#476398]

As a renter I'm happy with the R22 just the way it is! So if what you're doing will increase what it costs for me to fly one, then not interested!

 

...otherwise, knock yourself out!