Rotor Accessories, a California helicopter accessories company, has begun pre-orders for its newest product, the Blade Sock. The new blade tie-down system combines an aluminum support system with a high-quality fabric blade sock, and features a collapsible positioning rod that allows helicopter operators to place the Blade Sock in position without the need for a ladder or stool.
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“We created this product out of personal necessity,” said Chris Fetner co-founder of Rotor Accessories. “We own R44s and we wanted the security of tying down our blades when the aircraft wasn’t in use, but it always meant dragging a ladder out to the flight line to place them after a flight.”
The system works similarly to most blade ties with a fabric sleeve that fits snugly at the end of the blade tips and then tethers to the nose and tail boom of the aircraft. The most notable difference is the Blade Sock system uses a patent-pending spar hub and spar to provide a rigid substructure that secures the sleeve to the tether ribbon. This spar hub allows for the use of a collapsible positioning rod for placement and removal of the blade tie from the ground without a ladder or stool.
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“We know owners want to secure their blades to avoid possible wind or rotor wash damage, but needing a ladder to do it can cause many owners and operators to just skip it. We think the Blade Sock provides a convenient solution that packs down small enough to be stored under the seat and lets owners always secure their blades even when they land off-airport,” continued Fetner.
Starting Sept. 25, the Blade Sock system is available worldwide at rotoraccessories.com for the price of US$250.
