Better Performance Starts with Better Technology

T H E B L R A D VA N T A G E
 Graham Lavery Photo

U.S. State Department Huey II helicopters fly hot/high

missions with the FastFin System in Afghanistan.
 T H E B L R A D VA N T A G E BLRs FAA-certified improvements in density altitude announced its intent to install the BLR FastFin System on
Does it work? ceiling, out-of-ground effect hover, in-ground effect new Bell 412 EP helicopters. This decision verifies what
BLR Aerospace FastFin and Dual Tailboom Strakes
hover and wind azimuth operations are impressive, nearly 200 operators already know: FastFin is a mission-
Ask a Pilot. will dramatically improve the performance and stability and represent the biggest improvement in the history of critical enhancement that improves operations in an
of your Bell helicopter. Bell medium platforms. In fact, Bell Helicopter recently immediate and measurable way.

We were the first fleet to

install and operate the BLR What is FastFin? Bell 412 Performance Highlights*
Aerospace FastFin System for The FastFin tail rotor enhancement and stability system improves productivity and IGE Hover Performance Improvement WAT Maximum Allowable Windspeed
our Bell 212s. The system is a safety while reducing workload for helicopter operators. The patented FastFin System 12500 50

helicopter performance and safety modifies the tailboom with two parallel stall strips (Dual Tailboom Strakes) and re-shaped 45
Modified

vertical fin, optimizing airflow around the tailboom for dramatically improved handling. 11600 Baseline
enhancement that decreases fuel 40
FastFin will also expand the lifting capacity of your helicopter, increase performance and

Gross Weight (lb)

usage, increases lift and increases enable greater stability in all flight regimes, including high and hot hover conditions. 10700 35

Knots
stability; they are proving to be Additionally, FastFin will reduce fatigue for both pilots and airframes. 30
9800
very successful for us. Modified
Benefits What are Strakes? Baseline
25

Ian Wilson, General Manager,

8900
Improved Hot/High Performance Reduced Fuel Burn in Hover Easily installed on your helicopters tailboom, strakes organize and control aircraft 20

Wildcat Helicopters (up to 91%) (up to 6.5%) rotorwash, reducing the undesired sideways lift on the left side of the tailboom. Dual 8000 15
Improved Crosswind Capabilities Reduced Pilot Workload Tailboom Strakes, included with each FastFin System, reduce the turbulence under the 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000
Density Altitude 30 C Density Altitude 30 C
tailboom, reducing tail rotor pedal reversals by as much as 50 percent. Strakes are the most
FastFin is available for Bell 412, 212, 204B, 205A-1, 205B,
The use of pedal is greatly cost-effective, multi-functional, value-added modification ever developed for single-rotor
Huey II, and most UH-1 derivatives.
helicopters with enclosed tailbooms.
reduced with FastFin youll Bell UH-1H Performance Highlights*
see a dramatic difference in tail
Benefits IGE Hover Performance Improvement OGE Hover Performance Improvement
rotor authority. Improved Hover-Hold Tasks Improved Pedal Margins 700
BLR
BLRStrakes Reduce
Strakes Undesired
Reduce Lift
Undesired Lift BLR
BLRStrakes Reduce
Strakes Translating
Reduce Tendency
Translating Tendency Reduced Airframe Fatigue Reduced Torque
800
John Boucher, President, Rear View of Vertical Stabilizer and TailTail
Boom Rear View of Vertical Stabilizer and TailTail
Boom 750
Reduced Tail Rotor Power Requirements
Rear View of Vertical Stabilizer and Boom Rear View of Vertical Stabilizer and Boom
Improved High Density Altitude Capability 650
Overseas Aircraft Support
Improved Payload Reduced Operating Costs (fuel savings) 700

Useful Load Increase (lb)

Useful Load Increase (lb)

T/R T/R T/R T/R
Force
Force Force
Force T/R T/R T/R T/R
Force
Force Force
Force 600
650
M/ M
R A /R
ir F Air
low Flow Strakes are available for a range of Bell helicopters: 600 550
We are impressed at the clear im- DiskDisk Rotor
MainMain DiskDisk
Rotor
M/R Flow
low

RotoRrotor
MainMain Countering
Countering
206B, 206L, AB212, AB205, OH-58, AH-1.
Air F

Countering
Countering 550
Air

Translating
Translating
provements in aircraft handling Tendency
Tendency Translating
Translating
M/R

BLR/NASA
BLR/NASA Tendency
Tendency 500
Tailboom
Tailboom
Dual Tailboom Strakes are included in the FastFin System for: 500
with the new FastFin System,
Undesired
Undesired Desired
Desired Strakes
Strakes
Lift
Lift Lift
Lift Desired
Desired M/RM/R Countering
Countering
204B, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, Huey II, and UH-1.
M/RM/R Countering
Countering
Lift
Lift Thrust
Thrust Gravity
Gravity Thrust
Thrust Gravity
Gravity 450 450
especially the improved stability 400
400
in crosswinds when the aircraft 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000
Density Altitude 30 C
12000 14000
2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Density Altitude 30 C
has a full passenger load or a MainMain
Rotor
Torque
Rotor
Torque
MainMain
Rotor
Torque
Rotor
Torque

heavy external load. This is a

significant safety benefit when Bell 212 Performance Highlights** Certifications on BLRs
operating from offshore platforms, Especially for Bell Lights. IGE Hover Performance Improvement FastFin
Certifications System
on BLRs FastFin System
where space restrictions and If youTranslating
fly a Bell 206B or 206L, you can quickly and
BLR Strakes Reduce Undesired Lift BLR Strakes Reduce Tendency 400
Transport
obstacles are always a factor.
FAA EASA ANAC
Rear View of Vertical Stabilizer and Tail Boom dramatically improve the performance and stability
Rear View of Vertical Stabilizer and Tail Boom 350 Canada
BLR
BLRFastFin
FastFinIncreases Usable
Increases Thrust
Usable

Area
Thrust Area BLR
BLRFastFin
FastFinImproves TailTail
Improves

Rotor Efficiency
Rotor Efficiency of your helicopter with one small modification.
AJ Baker, Falcon Aviation 300 204

Useful Load Increase (lb)

Starboard View
Starboard of Vertical
View Stabilizer
of Vertical and
Stabilizer TailTail
and Rotor
Rotor TopTop
View of Vertical
View Stabilizer
of Vertical and
Stabilizer TailTail
and Rotor
Rotor T/R T/R
Force Force T/R T/R
Force Force 250
M/
RA
ir F
Affordable, easy-to-install Dual Tailboom Strakes will 205
200
low isk
measurably improve theCountering
Main Rotor Disk
efficiency and effectiveness

low
otor D
Dual Tailboom Strakes are an ust Arst A T/R T/R
Air Flow
Air Flow T/R T/R
Air Flow ain R Countering 212

Air F
Thr Thru ea rea Air Flow M
of your operation, especially Tendencywhen flying the most
Translating Translating 150
ow Thorwu Thru Tendency

M/R
BLR/NASA
excellent modification that extend
L

st
L

st

Tailboom
Countering challenging hot/high missions.
100 412 Pending Pending
Undesired Desired Strakes
Turbulent
Turbulent Organized
Organized Lift Lift Desired M/R
the life of my Jet Rangers. Lift Gravity M/R Countering
Inefficient
Inefficient Efficient
Efficient Thrust Thrust Gravity 50
Airflow
Airflow Airflow
Airflow UH-1 N/A N/A N/A
Some 700 strake-equipped helicopters have flown
Ray Newcomb,
0

Obstructed AreaArea BLRBLR

FastFin

FastFin
in excess of 1 million hours worldwide. BLR Dual 3000 5000 7000 9000 11000
Density Altitude 30 C
13000 15000

JBI Helicopter Services

Obstructed

Standard
Standard BLRBLR
Main Rotor
Torque
Main Rotor
Torque
Tailboom Strakes are proven by operators like you.
Tail Tail
Fin Fin FastFin
FastFin
* FAA Certified Performance. ** FAA Certified Performance Pending.
 BLR is focused on developing the highest performance
aerodynamic solutions in the industry, and we back up our
superior designs with unsurpassed manufacturing quality.

To learn more about how BLR can improve your fixed- or

rotary-wing performance, contact us at:

425 405 4860 International

www.BLRaerospace.com/FastFin
davemarone @ BLRaerospace.com

Performance and ROI estimates are non-certified and may vary based on individual aircraft and operations.

20120806 BDN