Originally Posted by
Salusa
As a side note VHA blades seem to be very "rigid".
They don't have the same flex in them as Bell OEM blades.
Easy to Track and Balance with usually just some PCL change and no tab required. Maybe a bit of span weight only presuming chord alignment is good during initial assembly.
Strange for composite blades which I would naturally assume would have more "flex" than OEM metal blades?
Our pilots have been experimenting with the "vertical hop" when low on fuel and no pax during mainly mountain flying. Can anticipate it and cyclic will offload the vibration.
Not a good situation to get into for a new operator with new newly installed blades.
OAT approx 7
DA 11k'+
Low gross weight (single pilot and fuel).
Rough air due to local environment.
I've been hearing for a while now that the van horns are actually beating the crap out of helicopters. Especially utility ships. Premature failure of transmission mounts, bearings, etc. 110% rumor but thats why the OH58 blades aren't out yet too stiff.