Kolibri
FW and Gyros
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2014
- Messages
- 1,636
- Location
- Wyoming
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152, 172, 172RG, 177, 206 -- Piper 180 -- RV-7A -- Calidus -- RAF2000 -- Sport Copter II and
- Total Flight Time
- 1000+
I've been flying Sport Rotors in my RAF2000 for two years so far, and have grown to really appreciate their superb flying qualities,
and amazing strength. Having visited Sport Copter on multiple occasions and toured the factory, I know what goes into their production.
Sport Rotors are not a completely extruded blade, but aerospace adhesive bonded skins around 6061-T6 with a robust crush bar in the root.
Their hub bar is brutally strong, and the larger rotors have a massive X-rayed NAS AN14 bolt with lead/lag Heim joint.
Proper cadmium-plated AN bolts are used throughout.
A 2017 webpage publishing an older review (i.e., before the 8.5" chord blades) has much info, such as this:
____________
The toughness of Sport Rotors is renowned. Here are a couple of examples.
Below is from another incident, in which a newbie pilot unknowingly had a prop strike on the takeoff roll, circled the pattern,
and landed without knowing one of his blades had been damaged from the trailing edge two-thirds in. Overbuilt strength pays off!
and amazing strength. Having visited Sport Copter on multiple occasions and toured the factory, I know what goes into their production.
Sport Rotors are not a completely extruded blade, but aerospace adhesive bonded skins around 6061-T6 with a robust crush bar in the root.
Their hub bar is brutally strong, and the larger rotors have a massive X-rayed NAS AN14 bolt with lead/lag Heim joint.
Proper cadmium-plated AN bolts are used throughout.
A 2017 webpage publishing an older review (i.e., before the 8.5" chord blades) has much info, such as this:
____________
The toughness of Sport Rotors is renowned. Here are a couple of examples.
“I was flying over the trees to come in for a landing in a rough field and on approach I saw a hawk fly out of a tree. I thought he was going to go left, but he flew up and then I heard him hit the rotors and felt a slight bump at the same time. The hawk was completely severed and the Vortex never missed a beat. I proceeded to land and upon inspection found a couple small dents underneath the rotors (maybe from the talons). After having lunch with my mom I then flew it 30 miles back home and did not have any stick shake. I just flew it again yesterday and still no shake. I am still confident in the rotors to fly. I cannot believe how tough Sport Rotors are!!!! This was no small hawk (as you can see in the picture).”
Below is from another incident, in which a newbie pilot unknowingly had a prop strike on the takeoff roll, circled the pattern,
and landed without knowing one of his blades had been damaged from the trailing edge two-thirds in. Overbuilt strength pays off!
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