Balancing the blades. This is normal procedure. These days there are contactless electronic measurements. But when you have the old type you do what OEM did.
Edit: It seems it is not for balancing. It is special procedure for adjusting the blades later on. People who work on this professionally hate when people use professional terms incorrectly. Sorry.
Well, what I'm saying is, how do you know that no adjustments are being made? It seems like the point of the exercise is to make adjustments if necessary.
Determining which blades are running higher or lower, then (after shutting down) adjusting the pitch change links and / or trim tabs to make them fly as coplanar as possible for rotor smoothness.
Every blade had different colored wax (basically soft crayons) on the tip, which marked the tracking “flag” held by the mechanic
Blade Tracking is the process of ensuring that all main rotor blade tips follow the same path or plane of rotation when the rotor head is turning. This critical maintenance procedure is essential for minimizing vibrations, improving flight stability and performance, and ensuring safety.
Older Flag Tracking method: involves using a special pole with a white cloth or paper strip. The tips of the rotor blades are marked with different colored chalk or a grease pencil. As the rotor spins at a specific RPM, the technician carefully brings the pole into the path of the spinning blades. The marks left on the cloth indicate the relative height of each blade's path, allowing mechanics to determine and make necessary adjustments.
Balancing the blades. This is normal procedure. These days there are contactless electronic measurements. But when you have the old type you do what OEM did.
Edit: It seems it is not for balancing. It is special procedure for adjusting the blades later on. People who work on this professionally hate when people use professional terms incorrectly. Sorry.
they’re checking the blade tracking to ensure they’re following the same path/in the same plane
no adjustments are being made
Is the gap shown normal? Or does it require tweaking?
i’ve never had need to validate my chopper tracking … or had a chopper for that matter
Well, what I'm saying is, how do you know that no adjustments are being made? It seems like the point of the exercise is to make adjustments if necessary.
Not balancing, tracking.
Determining which blades are running higher or lower, then (after shutting down) adjusting the pitch change links and / or trim tabs to make them fly as coplanar as possible for rotor smoothness.
Every blade had different colored wax (basically soft crayons) on the tip, which marked the tracking “flag” held by the mechanic
What does OEM mean in this context?
Original Equipment Manufacturer
Thank you!
https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisit/s/NSBdkaCfYE
That comment thread ex0lains what he's doing and why.
Ah, it has made its way here I see. This is blade tracking on an Alouette III helicopter
I’d posted this on SweatyPalms about a month ago with below explanation
https://www.reddit.com/r/SweatyPalms/comments/1pa1v7e/blade_tracking_on_an_alouette_iii_helicopter/
I know the job market sucks right now but I'll have to pass on that one
This, friends, is how horse combs are made
A stable job where you get paid in tips?
Measuring the distance of the blades relative to the orange safety line?
Looks like one of the things they use to measure vertical leap so maybe height. See if they are the same height off the ground all the way around?
That seems dangerous and bad for the guys back… there’s gotta be a better way to do this
Something, something, robot. Something, something, out of a job.
Whatever he's doing, he's doing it very carefully
He’s sharpening the blade ends.
Someone either hates humour or you really have to put "/s" on everything these days
Preach!
There has to be a much better and more modern way to do this...
There is. This is an old Alouette III chopper though, so old school is it.
I see
Clearly the sorcerer who gives the blades their spin
[deleted]
Don't the cat.