Solutions for Helicopters

In the last year both the Eurocopter EC175 and the Sikorsky S-76D medium twin-engine helicopters have made their maiden flights – each designed with all-composite main rotor blades. The UH-60M Blackhawk, which has been upgraded with a new composite wide-chord rotor blade and more powerful engine is demonstrating an impressive extra 500 pounds of lift. The composite intensive V-22 osprey tilt-rotor is now successfully deployed and ramping up to full production. Hexcel is a proud supplier to these and other programs, with a wide range of materials including: carbon fiber and reinforcements; epoxy prepreges; honeycomb’ engineered core.

Typical composite applications in helicopters

Rotor blades: carbon and glass prepreg, honeycomb, engineered core, Redux® adhesive
Rotor hub: carbon/epoxy prepreg
Glazing bars: carbon and glass expoy prepreg
Seats and interiors: glass prepreg, honeycomb
Engine/Body fairings/Access panels: glass, carbon and aramid prepregs with epoxy and BMI resins
Fuselage: carbon and glass prepregs, honeycomb
Main and cargo doors: carbon and glass epoxy prepreg, honeycomb and Redux® adhesive
Boom and tail section: carbon and glass epoxy prepreg, honeycomb and Redux® adhesive
Boom and tail section: carbon and glass epoxy prepreg, honeycomb and Redux ® adhesive
Horizontal Stabilizers: glass, carbon and aramid preprgs
Fuselage panels: carbon and glass epoxy prepreg, honeycomb and Redux® adhesive