Patent ID: 6869045

Claim:
A retrofit method, comprising: providing a helicopter that includes a fuselage having a tail portion, a vertical stabilizer supported by and projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the tail portion, a substantially V-shaped rear edge on the vertical stabilizer and a tail rotor mounted on the vertical stabilizer for rotation about a horizontal axis, said tail rotor being positioned laterally outwardly from one side of the vertical stabilizer; removing the rear edge portion of the vertical stabilizer and a rear end portion of the tail portion of the fuselage; providing a new rear edge portion for the vertical stabilizer that has an upper end, a lower end and a rear edge recess located between the upper end and the lower end, said recess having a laterally convex rear edge; providing a new rear end portion for the tall section of the fuselage; and securing the new rear edge portion of the vertical stabilizer and the new rear portion of the tail section of the fuselage to the vertical stabilizer and the tail portion of the fuselage.