MANUFACTURING METHODS FOR A COMPOSITE MAIN ROTOR BLADE FOR THE YAH-64 HELICOPTER

Hughes Helicopters has significantly advanced the art of fabricating complicated composite aircraft structural components, the most recent being the Advanced Attack Helicopter/YAH-64 Composite Main Rotor Blade now in fabrication as a Manufacturing Method and Technology Program in conjunction with the U.S. Army. This paper will describe the manufacturing methods utilized in the fabrication technique associated with the wet filament winding (WFW) cocure process. This new technology method is a result of the experience gained with the development of multitubular spar (MTS) main rotor blades for the AH-1G aircraft and NASA wind tunnel test blades. The WFW cocure process eliminates a major portion of the hand labor encountered with conventional wet lay-up composite structures, by substituting machine assembly techniques, thereby making its assembly simpler, without sacrificing structural integrity.