Helicopter rotor and method of repairing same

1. A rotor blade for a rotating wing aircraft, the rotor blade having an inboard end section arranged for attachment to the aircraft, an outboard flight section adjacent an outboard tip end of the rotor blade and which is arranged to provide lift when rotated, and a flexible blade section between the inboard end section and the outboard flight section of the rotor blade and which is arranged to undergo bending deflection in use, the flexible blade section being continuous in profile and formed of material having substantially the same rigidity as the outboard flight section and a wear resistant polymeric material being applied to the leading edge of only the flexible blade section between the inboard end section of the blade and the outboard flight section of the blade.

2. A rotor blade according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is an unreinforced elastomer.

3. A rotor blade according to claim 2 wherein the polymeric material is polyurethane.

4. A rotor for a rotating wing aircraft, the rotor blade having an inboard end section arranged for attachment to the aircraft, an outboard flight section adjacent an outboard tip end of the rotor blade and which is arranged to provide lift when rotated, and a flexible blade section between the inboard end section and the outboard flight section of the rotor blade and which is arranged to undergo bending deflection in use, a wear resistant metal strip being applied to the leading edge of only the outboard flight section and a wear resistant polymeric material being applied to the leading edge of only the flexible blade section between the inboard end section of the blade and the outboard flight section of the blade such that an outboard edge of the polymeric material is abutted against an inner edge of the metal strip.

5. A rotor blade according to claim 1 wherein the wear resistant polymeric material is applied directly to the substrate skin of the leading edge of the flexible blade section.

6. A rotor blade according to claim 1 wherein the wear resistant polymeric material is applied with an epoxy adhesive.

7. A rotor blade according to claim 4 wherein the flexible blade section, upon which the wear resistant polymeric material is applied, is continuous in profile and formed of similar material as the outboard flight section.

8. A rotor blade according to claim 1 wherein the flexible blade section, upon which the wear resistant polymeric material is applied, comprises a centre spanwise working section of the blade.

9. A rotor blade according to claim 1 wherein the flexible blade section, upon which the wear resistant polymeric material is applied, spans substantially between the inboard end section and a general area of the blade supporting a trim tab thereon.

10. A rotor blade for a rotating wing aircraft, the rotor blade having an inboard end section arranged for attachment to the aircraft, an outboard flight section adjacent an outboard tip end of the rotor blade and which is arranged to provide lift when rotated, and a flexible blade section between the inboard end section and the outboard flight section of the rotor blade and which is arranged to undergo bending deflection in use, a wear resistant polymeric material being applied to the leading edge of only the flexible blade section between the inboard end section of the blade and the outboard flight section of the blade, wherein the flexible blade section, upon which the wear resistant polymeric material is applied, spans substantially between the inboard end section and a location on the blade in which flexing of the blade is arranged to be substantially reduced in operation.

11. A method of repairing a rotor blade for a rotating wing aircraft from erosion, the rotor blade having an inboard end section for attachment to the aircraft, an outboard flight section adjacent an outboard tip end of the rotor blade, and a flexible blade section between the inboard end section and the outboard flight section of the rotor blade, the method comprising:

identifying the flexible blade section of the blade by identifying a section of the blade which spans substantially between the inboard end section and a general area of the blade where a trim tab is supported on the blade; and

securing a wear resistant polymeric material to the leading edge of only said flexible blade section between the inboard end section and the general area of the trim tab supported on the blade.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the wear resistant polymeric material is an unreinforced elastomer.

13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the wear resistant polymeric material is polyurethane.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein the method further comprises applying a bond line thickness control medium to the leading edge of the flexible blade section and applying the polymeric material to the thickness control medium.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the bond line thickness control medium is a scrim cloth.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein the bond line thickness control medium comprises glass beads.

17. A method according to claim 11 wherein an epoxy adhesive is employed to achieve securing of the wear resistant polymeric material to the leading edge of only the flexible blade section.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the epoxy adhesive is applied to the wear resistant polymeric material and the leading edge of only the flexible blade section prior to securing the wear resistant polymeric material to the leading edge of only the flexible blade section.

19. A method according to claim 11 including removing an existing wear resistant metal strip of the blade from only the flexible blade section prior applying the wear resistant polymeric material to the blade.

20. A rotor blade according to claim 10 wherein the flexible blade section, upon which the wear resistant polymeric material is applied, is continuous in profile and formed of similar material as the outboard flight section.