1510 W. Drake Drive, Tempe, Arizona USA 85283

info@vanhornaviation.com
Van Horn Aviation | Composite Rotor Blades
Van Horn Aviation | Composite Rotor Blades

Products

OUR PRODUCTS

EXPLORE OUR Composite Rotor Blades

VHA product lines include composite main rotor blades for the Bell 206L series LongRanger and 206B JetRanger. We also manufacture composite tail rotor blades for the 206 series (including OH-58A/C+), AS350, and various models of the UH-1 Huey. Operators around the world have equipped their rotorcraft with VHA blades for use in such varied industries as tour operations, law enforcement, firefighting, agricultural and commercial/civil applications.

206L Main Rotor Blade

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206L Main Rotor Blade

The VHA 206L LongRanger Main Rotor Blades feature rugged construction and composite materials. With more than 100 sets flying in the field as of January 2022, the VHA 206L Main Rotor Blades have become widely adopted with operators reporting speed increases and fuel savings. The main design differences between the 206B and 206L Main Rotor Blades reflect the differences in the two helicopter models, including a 22-inch longer Main Rotor Blade on the LongRanger and differences in the transmission suspension.

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    • Carbon fiber skin and spars increase strength and minimize corrosion.
    • An efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoil provides greater speed at the same power settings (in field tests).
    • Inconel and nickel abrasion strips cover the entire length of the blade for erosion and lightning strike protection.
    • Tracking wedges replace trim tabs for more precise track and balance.
    • The VHA blades use the identical installation configuration as the OEM blades, allowing direct replacement without hub modification.
    • A 16,000-hour service life (4x the life of the OEM blades) and pricing similar to the OEM metal blades means that your direct operating costs are lowered by more than half over the life of the blade, even when factoring in grip replacements.

206B Main Rotor Blade

The VHA 206B Version 2 Main Rotor Blades use the same carbon fiber materials and construction methods as our initial 206B Main Rotor Blades, which received FAA STC/PMA in 2016, and 206B/L/OH-58 Tail Rotor Blades, which have been available as an STC/PMA aftermarket component since 2009. All of these blades feature corrosion-resistant carbon fiber skin and spars, an efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoil, tapered tip, and leading-edge abrasion strips.

  • VIEW MORE

    • Carbon fiber skin and spars increase strength and minimize corrosion.
    • Tracking wedges replace trim tabs for more precise track and balance.
    • An efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoil provides greater speed at the same power settings (according to customer field reports; not yet confirmed by VHA).
    • Inconel and nickel abrasion strips cover the entire length of the blade for erosion and lightning strike protection.
    • The VHA blades use the identical installation configuration as the OEM blades, allowing direct replacement without hub modification.
    • A 10,000-hour service life and pricing nearly the same as the OEM metal blades means that your direct operating costs are nearly 50 percent lower over the life of the blade.

206B Main Rotor Blade

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206 Series

/OH-58 Tail Rotor Blade

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206 Series

/OH-58 Tail Rotor Blade

If noise is a concern in your neighborhood, fly neighborly with VHA Tail Rotor Blades. VHA’s composite 206 Series Tail Rotor Blades can lower the overall aircraft noise by up to 40%, according to FAA-approved acoustics testing. The noise reduction comes from a thinner NASA-designed laminar flow airfoil and shaped tip that cut through the air more efficiently than previous designs.

  • VIEW MORE

    • Carbon fiber skin and spars increase strength and minimize corrosion.
    • An efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoil provides more tail rotor authority at higher altitudes and greater lift capability (updated charts published in the 206L series Flight Manual Supplements).
    • Nickel abrasion strip and Astrostrike mesh cover the entire length of the blade for erosion and lightning strike protection.
    • A titanium root fitting and stainless steel pitch bearings provide more strength and durability at the root/hub connection.
    • The VHA blades use the identical installation configuration as the OEM blades, allowing direct replacement without hub modification.
    • A 5,500-hour service life (double the life of the OEM metal blades) means that your direct operating costs are lowered by nearly half over the life of the blade.

AS350 Tail Rotor

The VHA AS350 Tail Rotor replaces the current spar-and-paddle design with two individually-replaceable composite Tail Rotor Blades attached to a steel hub using self-lubricating spherical bearings. Removable pitch horns also allow interchangeability between spherical and elastomeric pitch links.


Our AS350 Tail Rotor is estimated to save at least 25% in maintenance costs over the life of the tail rotor.

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    • Eliminates elastomeric half-shell bearings and associated inspections/replacements, saving at least 25% on maintenance costs over the life of the tail rotor
    • Alternate means of compliance for four (4) current Airworthiness Directives
    • Steel hub with industry-standard teeter axis provides reduced pitch link loads
    • An efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoil provides greater tail rotor authority and more responsive performance
    • A 4,800-hour service life and pricing nearly the same as the OEM tail rotor reduces direct operating costs

AS350 Tail Rotor

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UH-1 Tail Rotor Blade

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UH-1 Tail Rotor Blade

If you’re still flying metal blades, experience the difference new technology can make on your UH-1. VHA’s composite UH-1 tail rotor blade uses an advanced cambered airfoil that improves stall margin, increases tail rotor authority and decreases vibration.

  • VIEW MORE

    The VHA UH-1 tail rotor blade features carbon fiber spar and skins, fiberglass root fittings, and a stainless steel abrasion strip. The all-composite construction results in a lighter but stronger rotor blade that resists both corrosion and impact damage. Although VHA’s UH-1H tail rotor blade is nearly one-inch wider than the OEM blade, no modification to the tail rotor hub is required for installation.

206L Main Rotor Blade

VIEW PRODUCT

The VHA 206L LongRanger Main Rotor Blades feature rugged construction and composite materials. With more than 100 sets flying in the field as of January 2022, the VHA 206L Main Rotor Blades have become widely adopted with operators reporting speed increases and fuel savings. The main design differences between the 206B and 206L Main Rotor Blades reflect the differences in the two helicopter models, including a 22-inch longer Main Rotor Blade on the LongRanger and differences in the transmission suspension.

  • VIEW MORE

    • Carbon fiber skin and spars increase strength and minimize corrosion.
    • An efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoil provides greater speed at the same power settings (in field tests).
    • Inconel and nickel abrasion strips cover the entire length of the blade for erosion and lightning strike protection.
    • Tracking wedges replace trim tabs for more precise track and balance.
    • The VHA blades use the identical installation configuration as the OEM blades, allowing direct replacement without hub modification.
    • A 16,000-hour service life (4x the life of the OEM blades) and pricing similar to the OEM metal blades means that your direct operating costs are lowered by more than half over the life of the blade, even when factoring in grip replacements.

The VHA 206B Version 2 Main Rotor Blades use the same carbon fiber materials and construction methods as our initial 206B Main Rotor Blades, which received FAA STC/PMA in 2016, and 206B/L/OH-58 Tail Rotor Blades, which have been available as an STC/PMA aftermarket component since 2009. All of these blades feature corrosion-resistant carbon fiber skin and spars, an efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoil, tapered tip, and leading-edge abrasion strips.

  • VIEW MORE

    • Carbon fiber skin and spars increase strength and minimize corrosion.
    • Tracking wedges replace trim tabs for more precise track and balance.
    • An efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoil provides greater speed at the same power settings (according to customer field reports; not yet confirmed by VHA).
    • Inconel and nickel abrasion strips cover the entire length of the blade for erosion and lightning strike protection.
    • The VHA blades use the identical installation configuration as the OEM blades, allowing direct replacement without hub modification.
    • A 10,000-hour service life and pricing nearly the same as the OEM metal blades means that your direct operating costs are nearly 50 percent lower over the life of the blade.

206B Main Rotor Blade

VIEW PRODUCT

206 Series

/OH-58 Tail Rotor Blade

VIEW PRODUCT

If noise is a concern in your neighborhood, fly neighborly with VHA Tail Rotor Blades. VHA’s composite 206 Series Tail Rotor Blades can lower the overall aircraft noise by up to 40%, according to FAA-approved acoustics testing. The noise reduction comes from a thinner NASA-designed laminar flow airfoil and shaped tip that cut through the air more efficiently than previous designs.

  • VIEW MORE

    • Carbon fiber skin and spars increase strength and minimize corrosion.
    • An efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoil provides more tail rotor authority at higher altitudes and greater lift capability (updated charts published in the 206L series Flight Manual Supplements).
    • Nickel abrasion strip and Astrostrike mesh cover the entire length of the blade for erosion and lightning strike protection.
    • A titanium root fitting and stainless steel pitch bearings provide more strength and durability at the root/hub connection.
    • The VHA blades use the identical installation configuration as the OEM blades, allowing direct replacement without hub modification.
    • A 5,500-hour service life (double the life of the OEM metal blades) means that your direct operating costs are lowered by nearly half over the life of the blade.

The VHA AS350 Tail Rotor replaces the current spar-and-paddle design with two individually-replaceable composite Tail Rotor Blades attached to a steel hub using self-lubricating spherical bearings. Removable pitch horns also allow interchangeability between spherical and elastomeric pitch links.


Our AS350 Tail Rotor is estimated to save at least 25% in maintenance costs over the life of the tail rotor.

  • VIEW MORE

    • Eliminates elastomeric half-shell bearings and associated inspections/replacements, saving at least 25% on maintenance costs over the life of the tail rotor
    • Alternate means of compliance for four (4) current Airworthiness Directives
    • Steel hub with industry-standard teeter axis provides reduced pitch link loads
    • An efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoil provides greater tail rotor authority and more responsive performance
    • A 4,800-hour service life and pricing nearly the same as the OEM tail rotor reduces direct operating costs

AS350 Tail Rotor

VIEW PRODUCT

UH-1 Tail Rotor Blade

VIEW PRODUCT

If you’re still flying metal blades, experience the difference new technology can make on your UH-1. VHA’s composite UH-1 tail rotor blade uses an advanced cambered airfoil that improves stall margin, increases tail rotor authority and decreases vibration.

  • VIEW MORE

    The VHA UH-1 tail rotor blade features carbon fiber spar and skins, fiberglass root fittings, and a stainless steel abrasion strip. The all-composite construction results in a lighter but stronger rotor blade that resists both corrosion and impact damage. Although VHA’s UH-1H tail rotor blade is nearly one-inch wider than the OEM blade, no modification to the tail rotor hub is required for installation.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact us and we can answer your questions directly.

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