iscover
The Helitune Rotortuner Dash 5 is easily carried aboard most helicopters. Here the infrared camera is aimed at the blade disc by the operator
Vibration Checks for Safe Helos
0 comment
Vibration Checks Mean Safer Helicopters
Vibration in helicopters is a problem ever since the first machines astounded onlookers by their primitive attempts to hover, back in the 1930s. Spinning rotors, drive shafts, pumps, generators, gearboxes and powerplants all conspired to unbalance the already unstable flying machine, causing, at the very least, discomfort for the pilot and his passengers and, at worst, stress-induced failures of vital components.
One of the most common causes of vibration was, and still can be, the main rotor blades. Early blades had to be matched as a set to overcome weight and balance differences. Trailing edge tabs needed to be meticulously adjusted by hand to ensure that each blade followed the same track and produced the same amount of lift to avoid an out-of-balance disc.
Checking this balance was traditionally carried out by marking each blade tip with coloured chalk, engaging the rotor drive and then placing a rigid canvas flag in line with the rotating tips – the chalk marks left on the canvas soon told the operator if a blade was out of track. Such rudimentary methods were still common in the 1960s when the development of more sophisticated analytical equipment began.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
