Russian Helicopters has designed a unique system for detection of hidden damage to the blades of rotary-wing machines. The know-how allows manufacturers and operators of helicopters to scan rotor and tail rotor blades for troubleshooting purposes.

The system application is aimed at increasing the lifetime of blades and will contribute towards flight safety.

Specialists of the RH-Technologies design office of Russian Helicopters holding (part of Rostec State Corporation) are engaged in designing unique Russian technology for scanning helicopter rotor and tail rotor blades. Currently, creation of a development model of the device and tests are underway. It is planned that the last stage of the tests will be completed in the next two years.

Apart from this, specialists of RH-Technologies are complete the launch of working design documentation for a project to modernize helicopters’ rotors and tail rotors. According to the project, their construction will not have a conventional spar and a honeycomb core in the tail part of the blade airfoil, and blades will be manufactured in a single-step molding process with the use of polymer materials. This know-how will increase the strength of blades, reduce vibrations and contribute towards its manufacturing quality at the serial production stage, in particular, through the use of modern process operations.

Russian Helicopters is a world leader in the helicopter industry, and the only helicopter designer and manufacturer in Russia. The holding consists of five helicopter plants, two design offices, as well as enterprises involved in the production and maintenance of components, aircraft repair plants and a service company that provides aftersales support in Russia and overseas. In 2015, the IAS based earnings of Russian Helicopters increased by 29.5% and totaled 220 billion rubles, while the delivery volume amounted to 212 helicopters.