Vertical magazine ran Jason Colquhoun’s article on “The Van Horn Way” in its April/May 2013 issue and as the lead for its April 22 Vertical Daily News issue.

The April/May 2013 issue of Vertical magazine featured a six-page story entitled, “The Van Horn Way.” Written by veteran helicopter pilot Jason Calquhoun who has logged more than 500 hours on a Bell 206 JetRanger fitted with VHA tail rotor blades, the story describes how Van Horn Aviation’s small business approach to solving problems has facilitated success in both product development and working with OEMs.

The print version of the article includes almost a dozen color photos of VHA projects, products and employees. To read a digital version of the photo-intensive print article, click here. Note that this version uses a flash player and may not open on Apple devices or slow Internet connections.

The article proved so popular that Vertical also posted the article on its website and used it as the lead in the April 22 issue of Vertical Daily News. To read the website version of the article, click here.

VHA’s prototype 412/212 tail rotor blade.

Van Horn Aviation recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. concerning 412/212 rotor blades. Under the MOU, VHA will design, certify and manufacture composite tail rotor blades to supply the Bell 412/212 product lines. The VHA 412/212 tail rotor blades will also be available for purchase by current operators through Aeronautical Accessories, a Bell Helicopter brand.

“Our 412/212 tail rotor blades will share many of the same qualities of our proven 206 tail rotor blades, including a robust composite design and efficient airfoil,” said VHA president James Van Horn. “We have already completed the design and manufacture of the prototype blade and will be flight testing this summer.”

The certification process will require a bird strike test, which will be conducted prior to flight testing. VHA plans to conduct bird strike and initial flight tests during summer 2013.

Van Horn Aviation recently increased production of its 206B/L composite tail rotor blades in response to a new agreement with Bell Helicopters. The agreement, signed earlier this week, grants Bell subsidiary Aeronautical Accessories exclusive rights to distribute VHA 206B/L tail rotor blades. Beginning December 7, 2012, operators wishing to purchase 206B/L tail rotor blades should contact their local Bell Helicopter Service Center or Aeronautical Accessories at 1-800-251-7094.

VHA will continue to sell its UH-1 Huey composite tail rotor blade directly to operators through its distributor network.

Van Horn Aviation recently received a supplemental type certificate for its 206B/L tail rotor blades from the Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil (National Civil Aviation Agency) of Brazil. The Brazilian STC allows 206B/L owners in that country to legally install and fly VHA’s composite tail rotor blades on their helicopters. For a copy of the Brazilian STC, see our documents page.

VHA Employee David Beltran graces the cover of the HeliMX Aug/Sep 2012 issue.

Two helicopter publications — HeliMX and ALEA’s Air Beat — featured Van Horn Aviation in recent issues. HeliMX editor Fred Polak visited VHA’s Tempe, Ariz., facility to interview VHA President James R. Van Horn regarding the general manufacture and repair of composite components. While at the facility, Fred took numerous photos that appeared in the article, and selected a photo of VHA painter David Beltran for the front cover of HeliMX’s August/September issue. To read the article, visit http://www.helimx.com/article/carbon-fiber-–-new-spin-main-and-tail-rotor-blades.

The Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA)’s Air Beat magazine contacted VHA regarding a corporate profile to run in its July/August issue. VHA contacted several law enforcement customers for the article, including Lt. Michael Ingram of the Pasadena (Calif.) Police Department’s Air Ops Section and Sgt. Nick Cory of the Tulsa (Okla.) Police Department’s Air Support Unit, who were both featured in the article. ALEA members can find the article on pages 48-49 of the July/August Air Beat. If you’re not an ALEA member, click this link VHA corp profile Jul-Aug 2012 Air Beat to read the article.

VHA began flight testing its newly redesigned MD530F main rotor blades on July 24, 2012.

Van Horn Aviation returned to flight testing this week as it celebrated a successful first flight of its MD 530F main rotor blades on July 24, 2012. The flight testing, held at the MD Helicopters facility in Mesa, Ariz., validated the design changes made to the blade since last year’s initial hover test and allows the program to move forward toward certification. VHA flight test personnel expect to continue through the various phases of flight testing through the third quarter 2012.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for VHA’s 206B/L composite tail rotor blade on April 23, 2012. The EASA STC means that European operators of 206B, 206L, 206L1, 206L3 and 206L4 helicopters can now legally install the VHA 206B/L tail rotor blades on their aircraft. A copy of the EASA STC is now posted in the Documents section of this website.

As of March 19, 2012, Van Horn Aviation’s distributor agreement with Trace WorldWide ended and was not renewed. VHA customers can still order our rotor blades through Aeronautical Accessories (1-800-251-7094), from any Bell Authorized Service Center, or from a number of other VHA distributors. For a map of U.S. and Canadian distributors, click here. For a list of international distributors, see our Distributors page.

With representatives from the FAA and Bell Helicopters present, VHA conducted high altitude performance testing on a 206L4 in Leadville, Colorado in August 2011 to determine actual hover performance in high and hot conditions.

Van Horn Aviation recently posted new FAA-approved Flight Manual Supplements (FMS) for the Bell 206L1, 206L3 and 206L4 helicopters on its Documents page. The FMS’s provide new hover performance charts for each model that increase the allowable weight in ground effect (IGE) by 170 lbs and out of ground effect (OGE) by 75 lbs in Area A.  Area A is the region of the hover performance charts where FAA controllability requirements are met (17 kt winds in all azimuths). Note that these charts do NOT increase the aircraft’s maximum internal gross weight limits.

The advanced airfoil design used on the VHA 2062200-101/301 tail rotor blade results in increased stall margin, thereby improving high altitude performance. Satisfactory stability and control has been demonstrated in relative winds of 30 MPH (26 kts) sideward and rearward at all loading conditions within an expanded Area A of the Hover Ceiling Charts. Each FMS provides the expanded chart and examples on how to use the charts to determine allowable weight in Area A when flying VHA tail rotor blades.

The use of VHA tail rotor blades does NOT authorize loading over the aircraft’s maximum internal gross weight limits.

Van Horn Aviation's new facility at 1510 W. Drake Drive in Tempe, Arizona.

Van Horn Aviation recently moved into its new facility located at 1510 W. Drake Drive in Tempe, Arizona. Purchased by VHA in April 2011, the building underwent extensive renovations for several months before the company began moving its operations to the new facility in November.

The Drake Drive facility, with its square footage of approximately 23,000 sq. ft., is nearly four times as large as VHA’s former 6,400 sq. ft. facility. It’s located just off of Interstate 10 at the Elliot Road exit for convenient access from the metro Phoenix area, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and communities to the south.

With the increase in available manufacturing space, VHA also added new paint and prep booths, built separate kitting and clean rooms, and increased its shipping and receiving area. Other amenities in the new facility include lockers, showers and a break room for employees; an upgraded conference room with large screen media center; and an expanded phone system.

For updated contact information, see our Contact Us page.