Tech Talk

Sponsors

tech talk

March 2008

By Robert H. Williams

3M Aerospace of St. Paul, Minn., is providing the U.S. military with two field maintenance packages — the Rotor Blade Protection Kit 8999K11 and Fuel Skin Repair Kit 8999K12. The specialized tapes are designed to “help repair and prevent erosion and return helicopters to service quickly,” says a spokesman.

For rotor blades, 3M drew from its polyurethane protective tapes to develop a customized product to protect and repair damage from sand, rain, moisture ingression, ultraviolet light, insects and other causes. The tape offers an alternative to repainting the blades and curbs sparking that keeps helicopters stealthy at night.

The fuel cell tape, meanwhile, is designed to repair torn fuel cell bladders and other non-load bearing surfaces. The patches bond quickly, which allows the aircraft to quickly return to service. The company says that the cell patches protect for up to 30 days or 100 flights hours.

Demand for Blimps Soaring

There is no shortage of applications for blimps. Seeking to capitalize on this growing market, a Sioux Falls, S.D., company is now producing large tethered aerostats for military, homeland security and scientific applications.

Aerostar International, which has more than 50 years experience in the field, is offering five standard sizes in a new product line of helium aerostats. Possible payloads include audio and imagery surveillance, communications relay, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, aerial targets, atmospheric sampling, search and rescue and aerial video relay.

Kryptonite Laser System Shines in Daylight

A one-piece bore sighting system that fits handguns, rifles and carbines of all calibers relies on a green laser that is 100 times more visible than red lasers, which are the traditional light source for such devices.

The units weigh two-and-a-half ounces and are seven-and-a-half inches in length.

LaserLyte of Cottonwood, Ariz., recently introduced this next-generation sighting system, which is powered by one CR2 lithium battery that offers an hour and a half of continuous operation by using the advanced auto power control digital circuitry.

In daytime use, the 532-nanometer green laser produces a dot that can be seen from as far away as 100 yards.

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