Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters is the launch customer for performance-enhancing tailboom strakes, developed by Boundary Layer Research for the Bell 206 series. The Las Vegas, Nevada-based air tour operator has ordered 22 shipsets for delivery as soon as they are certificated. Flight tests have begun on the 206BJetRanger and 206L LongRanger, and certification is due in April. The NASA-developed strakes reduce the tail rotor power required and so improve performance and handling. The devices are already approved on the Bell 205/UH-1, and certification is under way on the Eurocopter AS350 and Sikorsky S-76.
Source: Flight International
