Van Horn Aviation (VHA) has received a supplemental type certificate (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for composite main rotor blades installed on the Bell 206L Long Ranger helicopter.
Loosely based on VHA’s composite 206B Jet Ranger main rotor blades, which were certificated in 2016, the new VHA Long Ranger main rotor blades have been approved with a 16,000-hour service life, which is four times the life of the current OEM metal blades.
“Our Long Ranger main rotor blades reflect several design changes over the Jet Ranger blades due to inherent differences in the transmission suspension,” said VHA’s CEO James Van Horn. “Besides being 22 inches longer than the Jet Ranger blades, the Long Ranger blades also use different carbon fiber layup schedules and leading edge/tip weight distribution.”
The VHA 206L Long Ranger main rotor blades use the same carbon fiber materials and construction methods as the company’s 206B Jet Ranger main rotor blades. Both blades feature carbon fiber skin and spars, titanium root grips, efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoils, and tapered tips.
Stainless steel 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.
The VHA Long Ranger main rotor blades have a 16,000-hour service life with overhauls (consisting mainly of replacing the root grips) required every 4,000 hours. While VHA 206B JetRanger blades are still exclusively available through Aeronautical Accessories, Van Horn Aviation is selling the 206L LongRanger main rotor blades direct at an introductory price of $55,000 per blade through Dec. 31, 2018.
“Due to increases in manufacturing efficiencies learned through the last two years of building Jet Ranger blades, we’re able to lower the price of the Long Ranger main blades, at least temporarily,” said VHA president Dean Rosenlof. “We anticipate an increase in 2019 prices, so interested operators should reserve their build positions for 2019 now using 2018 prices.”
Operators can order 206L Long Ranger blades directly from Van Horn Aviation by calling 1-480-483-4202 or emailing info@vanhornaviation.com.
