Van Horn Aviation (VHA) CEO Jim Van Horn and President Dean Rosenlof traveled to Valley Center, Calif., to witness the first installation and flight of VHA 206B main rotor blades on a customer’s helicopter. Bob Hoag, owner and operator of Hummingbird Helicopters, has been flying VHA tail rotor blades on his JetRangers for several years and enthusiastically offered to be the launch customer for the main blade. Hummingbird Helicopters specializes in agriculture aerial application, servicing difficult-to-reach crops and noise-sensitive areas where residential developments have sprung up next to crops.
Hummingbird Helicopters Installs First Set of VHA 206B Main Rotor Blades
Pablo Ejarque, owner and operator of HeliBlade, Inc.—an authorized distributor and service center for VHA composite rotor blades—FAA DER (designated engineering representative) pilot Greg Ashe, Hummingbird pilot Hunter Olney, associate Henry Morris, and journalist Jason Colquhoun were also present for the installation. From installation to first flight took less than two hours, and no weight, pitch link, or tab adjustments were required for successful flight.
The VHA 206B composite main rotor blades are available exclusively through Aeronautical Accessories (aero-access.com or 1.800.251.7094). List price is $79,500 per blade. The blades have an 18,000-hour service life with overhauls required every 2,800 hours. For more information on our main rotor blades, visit our 206B Main Rotor Blade page under Products.
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If you're heading to Anaheim for Heli-Expo 2024, be sure to stop by VHA's Booth No. 2211 to say hello and pick up your limited edition bottle opener and tap hammer (while supplies last). Both items are manufactured in-house at VHA's facility in Tempe.
Van Horn Aviation provides two resources for authorized repair personnel who replace bearings in VHA 206 series tail rotor blades. These include Technical Bulletin TB 2062200-1 and a How-To video.
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