Rigid rotor assembly for folding helicopter blades

A helicopter comprising:

• a forward section;
• a tail section rearward of the forward section;
• and
• a rigid rotor assembly configured to allow rotation of helicopter rotor blades attached to the rigid rotor assembly from a deployed position to a stowed position, the rigid rotor assembly comprising:
• a first spindle attached to a rotor shaft;
• and
• a second spindle, the second spindle comprising a hub opening operable for placing the second spindle onto the shaft, the second spindle further comprising an attachment mechanism operable for maintaining the second spindle in a first position with respect to the first spindle and further operable for maintaining the second spindle in a second position with respect to the first spindle.

A method for rotating helicopter rotor blades coupled to a rigid rotor assembly from a deployed position to a stowed position, the method comprising:

• removing at least one retention pin from a first aperture on a first spindle and a second aperture on a second spindle, the first aperture being aligned with the second aperture, the spindles configured for attachment of rotor blades thereto;
• rotating the first spindle about an axis of the rigid rotor assembly such that the first aperture on the first spindle is aligned with a third aperture on the second spindle;
• and
• inserting the at least one retention pin into the first aperture and the third aperture.