Thu, Feb 16, 2012
Dallas, TX Facility Can Accommodate Blades For Aircraft As
Large As CH-53
One of the world's most powerful structures to dynamically
balance helicopter main rotor blades has been opened by Composite
Technology Inc. (CTI), a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company based
at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Designed by Sikorsky to
test main rotor blades that rotate either clockwise or
counterclockwise, the bi-directional whirl tower which was opened
Tuesday will enable helicopter operators and manufacturers to
rebalance their rotor blades in the U.S. regardless of the
rotorcraft's country of origin.
Sikorsky Whirl Tower
Among those attending the opening of the $15 million facility
were Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and Texas House Members Rep.
Linda Harper-Brown and Rep. Mark Shelton.
"The addition of a high-powered bi-directional balance stand
offers our customers reliable, accurate measurements for main rotor
blades flown by helicopter operators across all categories, from
lights up to heavy lift," said David Adler, Sikorsky Aerospace
Services President. "The ability to test blades of all sizes and
rotational speeds in either direction will provide significant cost
savings and rapid turnaround time to our North American
customers."
The whirl tower features two 3,000 shaft horsepower (shp)
variable frequency drive induction motors for rotation of three
blades (a precision-balanced master blade and two test blades) in
either direction at a peak rating of 6,000 shp. The tower's
6,000-lb rotor head will enable Sikorsky to spin blades weighing up
to 500 pounds each, thereby easily accommodating blades flown by
U.S. Marine Corps CH-53 heavy lift helicopters.
The whirl tower measures imbalance by spinning two test blades
against a precision-balanced master blade of the same
configuration. As the three blades rotate about the rotor head, a
laser tracking system measures where the blades fly relative to one
another. Adjustment of weights at a blade's tip and trailing edge
will enable CTI to correct for tip deflection, and for any
rotational twist along a blade's length.
"This whirl tower advances CTI's and Sikorsky's comprehensive
rotor blade repair services in the U.S.," said CTI President Bob
Ellithorpe of the two-year construction effort. "We are very
pleased to open this state-of-the-art capability in Texas during
our 40th year serving the rotorcraft community."
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