206/Kiowa main rotor blades
 

Seeking pair of time expired main rotor blades to suit Bell 206 or early Kiowa. The National Vietnam Veterans Museum (Australia) recently acquired a former Australian Army Kiowa but the machine came without main or tail rotor blades. The aircraft is for static display only so does not required flying examples, any help greatfully accepted.:)

The 206 and Kiowa had different diameter rotor blades.

You probably mean different lengths, thus different rotor diameter.

Should be bucketloads of Kiowa blades available when they are phased out of AAVN this year

.....and scarfed tips. They turned at 354rpm where the Jetranger rotated at 390rpm. I have forgotten all the other differences ......................... Well , it was 1971 !

Some numbers stick in your head for no apparent reason. The main rotor diameter of the 206B-1 Kiowa was 35'4.0". Tail rotor diameter 5'2.0". I remember the low RRPM warning light came on at 330 RPM, forget what speed 100% NR was. The Kiowa also had an engine fire warning system which I've never seen in a civilian B206. Plenty of other differences.

If memory serves me correctly the Kiowas had a Longranger rotor and transmission- but it was 20 years ago.......

Rotor diameter on 206L is 37'0", i.e. blades are longer than Kiowa. Different transmission also, I think. They are certainly suspended differently. Longranger TXM uses an elastomeric beam mount.

Well, you do catch on quick Eddie. I said, "had different diameter rotor blades". How do you get a different diameter without having a longer blade? :ugh:

For the OP, the Kiowa blades are one foot longer (two extra feet diameter for Eddie) so 206 blades would fit if the head will take them. Don't know if the heads or grips were different. Tail rotor smaller diameter on the 206 as well.

Main 206 33ft 4inch, Kiowa 35 ft 4 inch
Tail 206 5 ft 2 inch, Kiowa 5 ft 5 inch

I'm sure no one would notice if you were to mix and match.

Note to self, don't be a pedant.
Heads and grips are the same, although the hub was oil filled, in my time anyway.
Transmission was same externally but was a different gear ratio.

They could be difficult to track and balance, were a flying 2:1.

For a static display aircraft I don't think the punters will be brining a tape measure..

Someone with nothing better to do will notice ! :-)

Twelve posts and not one addressing the original question:

Timex B206 or Kiowa blades for a static display. The punters aren't going to climb up and measure them!!! :suspect:

Exactly. Just pilots swinging their d**** around.

Have you tried any museums like HARS etc, they might not have them but might be able to give you an insight on how they track down stuff like this.

I’ve tried one contact but he couldn’t help.

Other option might to be search the CASA register and write some snail mail to Australian operators who might have some expired ones sitting in a hangar somewhere.

I thought the question was settled...when Army clears its sheds of Kiowa parts. A phone call to Oakey would probably produce a lead on that.

Give Myles Tomkins a call at Airwork Helicopters in a couple of weeks when he is back from holidays.


07 5495 8000


He is the go to guy for Kiowas.


If no joy with Myles the forum you need to be on is probably bladeslapper.com

Try visiting or calling the Army Aviation Museum at Oakey, they will know who to put you in touch with.

:confused:

Spooky...