Recently, Boeing has developed for production a new main rotor drive system for the MD600 and MD500 model helicopter fleet. The performance objective for the new main rotor drive system was to increase power capabilities from 425 shaft horsepower to 600 shaft horsepower. Another objective was to exceed the excellent weight to horsepower ratio of the current main rotor drive system. The most important objective was that the recurring costs of the new drive system had to be the same as the current main rotor drive system. This paper addresses the use of WE-43A-T6 magnesium plus Tagnite and Rockhard corrosion protection coatings for the main transmission housings and covers which enabled the weight and performance targets to be met while meeting the cost target. The corrosion performance of the WE-43A magnesium castings along with the excellent corrosion barriers provided by the Tagnite anodic coating and the Rockhard resin coating has made magnesium a material to be used in the helicopter industry. WE-43A-T6 magnesium castings have been successfully implemented into helicopter transmission housings and covers.
Use of WE-43A-T6 magnesium in the MD600 helicopter drive system
Verwendung der Magnesiumdruckgußlegierung WE-43A-T6 für Rotorkopfgehäuse des Boeing-Hubschraubers MD600
1998
5 Seiten, 9 Bilder, 3 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch