This is cool... the Kopp-Etchells Effect

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Kopp-Etchells Effect

When helicopters pass through dust storms, contact of the particles with the rotating blades produces either sparks or static electricity.

The phenomenon has been observed during combat operations in Afghanistan ; Michael Yon has documented the effect, and has named it after two U.K. soldiers who died there. "Kopp-Etchells"

When operating in sandy environments, sand hitting the moving rotor blades erodes their surface. This can damage the rotors; the erosion also presents serious and costly maintenance problems .

The abrasion strips on helicopter rotor blades are made of titanium, which is very hard, but less hard than sand; so when a helicopter is flown near to the ground in desert environments abrasion occurs, and at night there is a visible corona or halo around the rotor blades, caused by the sand hitting the titanium and causing it to spark and oxidize .

[phkrause]

Wow that's really interesting rudywoofs, thanks for the post.

pk

[Amelia]

Way too cool!

[Gail]

Yeah, this is cool, albeit frustrating about the erosion part.

[Gregory Matthews]

Pam:

Yes, interesting. Thanks.

In a sandy enviornment there are a lot of things that erode.

When I used to operate in a sandy enviornment I directed that my driver would lube the vehicle every 100 miles. She did not like that as that was not whast other drivers had to do. But, you know, my vehicle was never down for joint replacement like other vehicles were. Pressure libing the vehicle forced the sand back out of the joints before the silica could damage them.