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Van Horn Aviation tests new H125 tail rotor assembly

Rotor blade manufacturer Van Horn Aviation (VHA) completed a ground run for its latest tail rotors for the Airbus Helicopters H125, previously known as the AS350.

Its new new tail rotor assembly features two individually replaceable composite tail rotor blades attached to a VHA-designed titanium hub using self-lubricating spherical bearings. Since VHA’s H125/AS350 tail rotor blades use the same NASA-designed laminar airfoil as the company’s popular 206 series tail rotor blades, VHA engineers expect a similar increase in performance and decrease in overall noise signature compared to OEM blades.

VHA CEO James Van Horn expressed enthusiasm in a press release stating that the  tail rotor blades will provide greater tail rotor authority, and offers increased safety during a hydraulics failure.

Van Horn Aviation is working with Piranha Aerospace Solutions, a membership-based helicopter parts distributor, to launch the product with its members.

Piranha Principal of Sales John Holland said in a statement, “The elimination of the underperforming half laminated bearings and the use of individually replaceable blades stands to save our members thousands of dollars in direct maintenance costs while also increasing aircraft availability.”

Flight testing will begin this summer with FAA certification estimated in 2022.