Products
DART Helicopter Services announces approval for its Round-I-Beam Skidtubes

July 25, 2012, Hawkesbury, Ont., – DART Helicopter Services has announced EASA approval of their subsidiary partner DART Aerospace (DAS)
Round-I-Beam™ Skidtubes for the
A119/AW119MKII
models of helicopters.

DART Aerospace believed that conventional skidtubes were
under-designed for the types of landings most helicopters encounter.
Conventional skidtubes are ill-equipped to face the critical loading
conditions encountered when landing on uneven ground, rocks, tree roots, and
other small objects. Under these conditions, simple round tubes tend to
puncture, dent and bend because they cannot maintain their shape. DAS’s
revolutionary patented Round-I-Beam™ technology combines the conventional
round tube with the strength of the I-Beam made from 6061-T6 aluminum.

In DAS Skidtubes, the central I-beam web absorbs most of the impact on
landing so that tube maintains its integrity. Even with the additional of a
central web, the weight is comparable to that of conventional skidtubes.

DAS Skidtubes are available in multiple configurations for maximum
versatility: standard skidtubes and one-piece float skidtube (pre-drilled
for Apical float compatibility), both with several different wearplate
configurations including lightweight, full coverage and run-on landing
wearplates. DAS run-on landing wearplates feature an easy thru-bolt
installation which makes installation or replacement quick and easy,
eliminates clamps over the skidtube and prevents the wearplate from rotating
on the skidtube. The DAS run-on landing wearplates are constructed of
corrosion resistant stainless steel and feature a full length stainless
steel bar wear with areas of generously overlaid highly wear resistant
tungsten carbide and a corrosion resistant compound between the skidtube and
wearplate (no gaskets or sealant required).

Features:

• CNC machined split saddles ease installation – even in the field
• Up to 10 times more resistant to damage
• Manufactured from 6061-T6 aluminum that can be repaired by welding
• Reduce your inventory, DAS replacement skidtubes are LH/RH
  interchangeable

4 Configurations:

• Wearpads only (lightest)
• Wearplates & Wearpads
• Run-on Landing Wearplates (best protection)
• New Run-on Landing Skidtubes ideal for training operations

“DAS Round-I-Beam™ Skidtubes have a long track record for quality,
performance and durability in the harshest of environments. With the added
durability of the run-on landing wearplates, we are pleased to now be
offering this cost effective landing gear solution to our European
customers.” Quote, Bill Beckett, VP Canadian Operations.

For further information, please call our Customer Support Center
at 1 (800) 556 4166 or 1 (613) 632 3336 or by e-mail at
sales@darths.com