Tempe, Ariz. manufacturer Van Horn Aviation is showing two new Bell UH-1 Huey products, an all-composite tail-rotor blade and a competitively priced main rotor blade. Owner Jim Van Horn said the tail-rotor blade that is currently undergoing certification is 90-percent carbon fiber and 10-percent fiberglass and uses a Boeing VR7 airfoil with 30 percent longer chord for increased thrust. It is designed to be used with the Global Trek system without having to convert from a pusher to tracker gearbox. “It will have a 2,400-hour life,” Van Horn said, “double the life of the current blade.” He added that it should be available in the third quarter.

Also undergoing certification testing at Van Horn is a main rotor blade being developed with Helicopter Technology Co. that is interchangeable with 204-011-250-113 blades. Approval is expected by the middle of next year. Both products are on display here at Heli-Expo 2006 in Booth No. 1603.