Patent ID: 8210468
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: B64C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of modifying a helicopter, the method comprising: providing a vertical stabilizer of the helicopter, the vertical stabilizer including a non-rounded trailing edge and having a first average chord length, the vertical stabilizer is connected to an end of a tail boom of the helicopter, the non-rounded trailing edge defining a first radius; removing the non-rounded trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer, the non-rounded trailing edge extending along an upper fin of the vertical stabilizer and along a lower fin of the vertical stabilizer; providing a new rounded trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer such that the vertical stabilizer has a second average chord length that is less than the first average chord length, the new rounded trailing edge defining a second radius that is larger than the first radius; and coupling at least one elongate strake to the tail boom such that the at least one elongate strake is between the end of the tail boom and a fuselage of the helicopter.