Skywheels has a longstanding history of performance and safety as a high-inertia rotor system. Over 3,000 blade sets have been produced since 1985. Having a sense of safety and reliability from a time-tested and proven rotor system is important. The following information is provided to inform you about the design and benefits of Skywheels composite rotor blades and our product satisfaction guarantee.

Composite Structures

Composites have gained acceptance as the material of choice in aerospace applications. No metals are available today with strength-to-weight ratios that can be surpassed by composites. Composites also allow the designer to further optimize the efficiency of a structural element by orientating the fibers in directions most appropriate for handling the applied loads.

Many forces are placed on a rotor system as it spins in the air, and management of this system requires close tolerances necessary for smooth and efficient flight. The tooling and fabrication techniques essential to produce composite rotors that meet these requirements are relatively expensive and difficult to master. Still, the resulting rotor system is superior in all areas.

Skywheels Rotors

Our rotor blades are fabricated using a time-tested process of fiberglass and carbon fiber in a bonding material. The fibers are oriented to provide stiffness from root to tip along the full blade diameter. Additional fibers are added to provide skin stiffness and a good bonding surface. Carbon fiber is added to address loads placed on the rotor blade. An extruded aluminum spar is bonded inside the leading edge, contributing to the strength and providing proper chordwise balance.

The Center Section is Skywheels' Trademark

Rotor blade manufacturers often use a standard aluminum hub bar.

Skywheels took another approach and engineered an airfoil-shaped composite center section, which minimizes drag and contributes to lift. Like the rotor blades, the center section is constructed with fibers oriented to provide strength.

A 12-inch-deep pocket is molded at each end of the center section to accept the blade root and is secured with blade retention hardware.

The center section's wide chord (approximately 10 inches), in conjunction with the retention bolts' wide spacing, provides the in-plane bending stiffness and rigid blade pattern alignment necessary to minimize joystick shake.

Quality Assurance

With proper care, use, and storage, our rotor system offers a lifetime of use.

Strength and Safety

The rotor system was designed to exceed Federal Aviation Regulation Part 27 (requirements for normal category rotorcraft).

Skywheels were engineered for increased durability and damage resistance. Each element of the rotor system has been tested statistically and dynamically extensively to determine the magnitude of safety margins under conceivable conditions. The chord of the rotor blade is 8 inches wide. Blade diameter ranges from 23 feet to 29 feet, covering a gross loaded weight range of 500 lbs. to 1,200 lbs. 

The rotor systems vary in weight from 62 pounds for a 23-foot diameter set to 87 pounds for a 29-foot set. While our rotors can be made lighter, we have found that the above weights provide a rotor RPM that is more constant and less susceptible to decay during unloaded conditions.  An example of an unloaded condition is when a pilot flares to quickly at the landing point and unloads the rotor disc of the lift at a critical point.

Product Satisfaction Guarantee

If you purchase a set of our rotors and are unsatisfied, return them undamaged within 30 days of delivery. Skywheels reserves the right to inspect the product following the refunds portion of our > Policy Statement. If accepted, we will provide a 100% refund, less shipping costs.

Lifetime Warranty

Your continued confidence and enjoyment of our rotor blade system are essential. If at any time and for any reason you would like your rotor system inspected, static or chord balanced, or tracked, we will be happy to professionally perform any or all of these services for you for a modest fee. You need to arrange for delivery to us and subsequent return to you of your blade system. This service is offered for the life of the Skywheels rotor system, and it does not matter how or from whom you acquired your rotor blades.