Comments on: Tail boom strakes http://blog.aopa.org/helicopter/?p=309 AOPA's Helicopter Blog Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:56:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Ken Armstrong http://blog.aopa.org/helicopter/?p=309#comment-978 Ken Armstrong Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:50:17 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/helicopter/?p=309#comment-978 Tim,
It might be better to point out the strake is effective because it is installed such that it trips the air on the side on which is installed making a low pressure area along the tail boom (and obviously high pressure on the other side). This force helps the tail rotor in the hover by reducing the amount of anti-torque it needs to provide and allows the altitude and payload increases.

The NASA team used wind tunnel and
flight test data to design a device that improves
handling qualities, reduces tailboom fatigue, improves
climb and cruise performance, and increases
yaw control safety margins for all single
rotor helicopters with enclosed tailbooms.
http://www.blrvgs.com/pdfs/techbrief.pdf

Happy hover landings

Ken

]]> By: Brendan Fitzpatrick http://blog.aopa.org/helicopter/?p=309#comment-976 Brendan Fitzpatrick Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:02:06 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/helicopter/?p=309#comment-976 Good stuff! Thanks Tim.

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