The presentation will provide an overview of helicopter rotor blade construction evolution from the first days of rotary wing flight up to present day, and review possible future technology directions and synergies.

Material types and configurations are reviewed against the demanding design and operational requirements that a helicopter rotor faces, and the joint  progression of design and construction techniques is used to illustrate the growth in helicopter capability from the very first days of helicopter operations at the end of World War 2 up to present day.

Particular detail has been drawn from the rotor developments achieved by a series of joint industry/government programmes collectively titled the British Experimental Rotor Programme.

Helicopter Rotor Blades Lecture