Abstract
Analysis of the material and operational costs shows that the use of self-adhering elastomeric trailing edge wedges on the Apache (AH-64D) helicopter in main rotor (MR) blade tracking operations will significantly reduce the number of blades damaged by tab bending that must be repaired at the depot level. Wedge implementation will also allow for a decrease in the number of test flights and maintenance man hours associated with those flights. Additionally, the wedges will lower aircraft vibration levels. This paper describes the benefits of the implementation of MR wedges on the AH-64D. A 10-year return on investment (ROI) is calculated for projected peacetime flying hours and for the current flying rate. Dollar values and flight hour optempo have been removed to comply with the operations security process. These values have been replaced with percentages.