rotortuner

[tropppo]

I am pretty new in the job of tracking and balancing and am wondering what is your longest time to do the job on a 4 blades helicopter

[pinkie]

99% of the job depends on what type of equipment you are using.
If you've got an old Chadwick type box, it could take you all day if the unit is not very reliable, but with one of the newer boxes like the Chadwick 8600, you can get it finished in an hour or two (if it all goes well, and the static balance has been carried out correctly)

[Bodjit]

Used rotortuner when i was a squaddy dik and thought it was dogs bollox. Ive never used any of the new chaddy gear but the old stuff although accurate and valve driven was open to a little "Interpretation" We used to track and vibe LX and Gaz in a couple of hrs no probs. Best advice is to get a job on fixed wing and say goodbye to all that crap......

[rwm]

Bodjit, i think you just have given up. Tuning a chopper, either 2, 3, or 4 bladed is easy if you remember the basics. Know what your vibes tell you. Don't just rely on the box to do your work. Weight for laterals, tab or pitch link for verticals.

[goferthehammer]

Haven't ever worked on little helo's - just Sea Kings, but generally a good couple of hours. Have never used rotortuner - more familiar with old strobe lamp and reflective flags in old days and more recently using RADS AT kit to do track and vibros. You have to remember that RADS tries to reduce vibration at expense of track. However when doing tail rotor dynamic balancing, it's very easy to get into a "loop" by blindly following the box - must always remember that it references to a master blade all the time.

[Bell214B]

we are using an old Chadwick for the AS350 and a RADS AT for the Bell 214B. I call it RATS because I think its a bit complicated to use compared to the Chadwick.
Average time for a 350 is 3 ground runs, a 5-10 min flight all taking less than an hour. But of course it may take longer if you get into trouble.
The 214 is another matter. The blades (tabs) are VERY sensitive and we have been using 1 and a half day including 1,5 hours airborne time before becoming satisfied. And the 214 has only two blades thank god.
And we always go for minimum vibration at the expence of blade track. Within reason of course.

We are considering buying a Microvib II which is a new magic box using a camera instead of a strobe and also has no software but is a "self-learning" thing. We will have it demonstrated on the 214 at the end of this month so if that works out OK its a deal. Another thing with the Microvib is that it is possible to connect weight cells to the box and use it for weighing.

[number8]

Tropppo, to answer your question in the spirit it was asked, `our' (we`d prefer to remain anon through shame) best was 5 days after a blade change on a 76. In my defence, when we got round to weighing the new MRB it was 2kgs heavier than all the others (thanks Sikorsky!!) and we had to fit the runs and flights round revenue flying cos we couldn't have a dedicated pilot, wouldn't do to spoil the little darlings rest would it!! We used Strobex and Chaddy, at one point the Chadwick wanted us to fit 16 lbs of weight to one of the blades, how we laughed. Needless to say, I'm forbidden to do 900 hr inspections anymore in case I snag one again.

[Charlie Papa Lima]

Can't comment on four or less blades but six can take a while.

The Chinook has interactions between the forward and aft heads so the rotortuner box's adjustments are fairly academic. Back to the books and course notes if it has been a while between rotortunes.

A good rotortune can take 3-4 flights of 45 minutes each, dependent upon the reason for the rotortune. Blade and head changes take the longest and have been known to take upwards of a week with 3 flights a day.

What fun we used to have........