Bell 212: Aircraft Covers from Bruce's Custom Covers

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The Silver Laminate Windshield/Canopy Cover encloses the windshield, side windows and skylights. It covers the front side doors, and the canopy roof above the front seats. The cover attaches with buckles and straps to the front crosstubes, and with a belly strap under the nose beneath the windshield base. Attachment buckles are made of non-metal Delrin, designed for rugged outdoor use. A pocket is sewn into the cover for the temperature probe, and it is reinforced in the area of the windshield wipers. For ease of installation, the cover is color-coded (red=left, green=right) with color swatches sewn into the rear corners.

The Silver Laminate Windshield/Canopy/Nose Cover is similar to the windshield/canopy cover, but also encloses the nose of the helicopter. Pockets are sewn into the cover to allow for the pitot tubes. The cover attaches in the same way as the windshield/canopy cover, and is also running light color-coded.

Windshield covers are made of nylon Silver Laminate. Bruce's Custom Covers developed Silver Laminate especially for aircraft protection. The outer material is a medium weight nylon treated for ultraviolet resistance and anti-static buildup. The inner lining is brushed nylon tricot knit. Silver Laminate is extremely reflective. Tests show that the cabin interior temperature can be reduced by as much as 25 degrees. It is water, ice and snow repellent, yet it is breathable enough to allow moisture to escape from between the cover and the windshield surface. Silver Laminate contains no hydrocarbon compounds which can harm plexiglass windshields and acrylic finishes.

The Engine Area/Mid-Cabin Cover forms a "saddle" over the engine area to enclose the intakes, exhaust, engine and oil cooling screens. It fastens on either side to the front and rear cross-tubes, and to the rear beneath the tail rotor boom "bottleneck". To allow for the rotor mast, a Velcro closure splits the cover along the fuselage centerline forward of the mast. To aid in swash plate protection, a collar fits tightly around the rotor mast base. The cover is running light color-coded, and is made of durable heavy weight nylon. This material is extremely abrasion resistant, water repellent and lightweight.

Rotor Hub/Stabilizer Bar Covers overlap with eachother, blade covers and the engine cover to insure complete protection for the entire main rotor. They are made of Cordura nylon and are available in a variety of colors. Cuffs close tightly around the blade roots and rotor hub base. The rotor hub cover closes with Delrin buckles. The stabilizer bar covers pull onto the bars and tie securely.

Blade Covers are sewn of medium weight nylon pack cloth. Cut "full" to avoid trim tabs, blade covers can be installed from the ground with the aid of lightweight rope which is attached to the open end. Covers are cinched tight at the blade root with straps and Delrin buckles. A small opening at the tip of the cover allows for some air circulation and drainage. For operations in extremely cold weather, blade covers can be fitted with full length zippers, and with "boots" designed to accept a pre-heater hose.

Blade Tie-Downs are made for both the front and rear blade positions. The Tie-Downs are "socks" which fit over the blade tip with or without blade covers installed. The front blade tie-down has long ropes which attach to the front cross-tubes or front skid tie-down rings. The rear blade tie-down has two straps with weighted ends.

The Tail Rotor Cover is a two-piece design which fits over each blade, similar to the details on the blade covers. Made of medium weight nylon in various colors, tabs have been sewn into the tips of the covers so that they may be tied down in high winds or to allow the covers to be pulled off quickly with rope.

The Tail Rotor Hub/Gearbox Cover is a one-piece design which overlaps with the tail rotor blade covers. The cover is made of heavy weight nylon in various colors, and fastens securely with Delrin buckles.

The Tail Rotor Tie-Down is a strap assembly or harness of heavy duty nylon webbing. which fastens around the tail rotor hub and lower blade. A weighted strap wraps around the tail skid to secure the rotor.

Main/Alternate Air Plugs and Pitot Covers are made of durable red Naugahyde reinforced fabric. They are designed to protect some of the helicopter's most vital components quickly, easily and thoroughly.

HeatShield Interior Reflectors are made of a special laminate of metallized polyester film and closed cell foam. Less than 1/8" thick, the reflector is stiff enough when flat to stand up against the windshield using the sunvisors and window framing only. On some designs Velcro fasteners are necessary. HeatShields roll up and store in a sleeve, yet retain a memory to be flat whenever they are needed. HeatShields are an excellent short-term remedy for cockpit overheating, but the Canopy Cover offers a more effective and practical solution.