4 ms·

I'm confused. Why do you think that planes have a longer lifespan? I mean, I assume we're talking about plane propellers here, right? Not airframes or somethin

I'm confused. Why do you think that planes have a longer lifespan? I mean, I assume we're talking about plane propellers here, right? Not airframes or something? Are you sure that a plane would fly with the same blades for more than the cited 10-25 years?

arethuza 12y ago
Also plane components are rather easier to access for servicing than windmill blades.
eggy 12y ago
I'd also be a bit skeptical about their structural integrity. Composites usually have dimensional strength with weaves going in orthogonal and diagonal to each other. However, any holes, or stress cracks would make their recycled use for less critical applications. I would like to read further on how they inspect and possibly recondition them for less stressful use, but within the parameter of re-purposed, safe use.
switchbak 12y ago
It's been a while, but I used to work with some folks who performed maintenance on helicopters that had composite rotor blades - and they were constantly being inspected and sent back to the manufacturer. Perhaps it's different in the civilian aerospace world, but I don't think it's sensible to expect those blades to last as long as the airframe.
- frik 12y ago
  The lifetime of composite rotor blades is shorter than metal based rotor blades that were used in older generations of helicopters. Example: The B0 105 helicopter is cleared for up to 3.5 positive G force and one negative. Its agility and responsiveness can be partly attributed to its rigid rotor blade design, a feature uncommon on competing helicopters. The rotor system is entirely hingeless, the rotor head consisting of a solid titanium block to which the four blades are bolted; the flexibility of the rotor blades works to absorb movements typically necessitating hinges in most helicopter rotor designs. The reliability of the advanced rotor system is that, in over six million operating hours across the fleet, there had been a total of zero failures. One benefit of the Bo 105's handling and control style is superior takeoff performance, including significant resistance to catastrophic dynamic rollover; a combination of weight and the twin-engined configuration enables a rapid ascent in a performance takeoff. The MBB Bo 105 is the only heli cleared for acrobatic stunt flight and is the work horse of "Flying Bulls" (Red Bull). Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBB_Bo_105 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBB_Bo_105

arethuza 12y ago

Also plane components are rather easier to access for servicing than windmill blades.

eggy 12y ago

I'd also be a bit skeptical about their structural integrity. Composites usually have dimensional strength with weaves going in orthogonal and diagonal to each other. However, any holes, or stress cracks would make their recycled use for less critical applications. I would like to read further on how they inspect and possibly recondition them for less stressful use, but within the parameter of re-purposed, safe use.

switchbak 12y ago

It's been a while, but I used to work with some folks who performed maintenance on helicopters that had composite rotor blades - and they were constantly being inspected and sent back to the manufacturer. Perhaps it's different in the civilian aerospace world, but I don't think it's sensible to expect those blades to last as long as the airframe.

frik 12y ago
The lifetime of composite rotor blades is shorter than metal based rotor blades that were used in older generations of helicopters. Example: The B0 105 helicopter is cleared for up to 3.5 positive G force and one negative. Its agility and responsiveness can be partly attributed to its rigid rotor blade design, a feature uncommon on competing helicopters. The rotor system is entirely hingeless, the rotor head consisting of a solid titanium block to which the four blades are bolted; the flexibility of the rotor blades works to absorb movements typically necessitating hinges in most helicopter rotor designs. The reliability of the advanced rotor system is that, in over six million operating hours across the fleet, there had been a total of zero failures. One benefit of the Bo 105's handling and control style is superior takeoff performance, including significant resistance to catastrophic dynamic rollover; a combination of weight and the twin-engined configuration enables a rapid ascent in a performance takeoff. The MBB Bo 105 is the only heli cleared for acrobatic stunt flight and is the work horse of "Flying Bulls" (Red Bull). Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBB_Bo_105 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBB_Bo_105