Low T/R component times
 

I understand the Bell 47 has short time-life tail rotor blades of only 500 hours (?) - are there any other aircraft with such short T/R component times still flying ?

Is 500 hours so short? Must be about a year at least. For comparison, an instructor on 300s told me they replace the pitch links on the TR annually.

Some Mustering companies replace the whole chopper, a couple of times a year sometimes. :}

Maybe they do, but they don't have to - the T/R blades on a 300CBi have a life limit of 9,000 hours and the T/R pitch links are an on-condition part - on all the CB's I've seen, they've never been replaced (up to 2600 hours).
300CBi overhaul schedule

The Skeeter's T/R blades have 1000hr. life and the pre mod. ones have 600hrs. till they are ready for the bin. In reality I would imagine the manufacturer allowed a large safety margin in this figure particularly as they were selling to the MOD and the MOD probably put in another safety magine as they were not paying for them. Amazing to think that they are made from laminated birch, Spruce and balsa wood and covered in fibreglass.

bell 47 tailrotor blades are lifed at 2500 hours

Imabell - I know you're the expert in this dpt - is that on all models?