Detachable rotor blade fairing apparatus and method

A rotorcraft rotor comprising:

• a hub configured to rotationally mount to a mast of a rotorcraft;
• and
• a plurality of rotor blades, each rotor blade comprising
• rotatably mounted to the hub;
• leading edge fairing being mounted to the blade spar such that the leading edge fairing extends along a major portion of the blade spar;
• a trailing edge fairing mounted to the blade spar such that the trailing edge fairing extends along a major portion of the blade spar and is located opposite the leading edge fairing secured to the blade spar and such that the blade spar, leading edge fairing, and trailing edge fairing form an airfoil contour along the length of the leading edge fairing;
• at least one line formed to do at least one of extending between the leading edge fairing and the blade spar and extending between the trailing edge fairing and the blade spar;
• and
• one or more detachable fairings, each of the detachable fairings being selectively securable to the blade spar and one of the leading and trailing edge fairings being flush with one of the leading and trailing edge fairings such that the blade spar and one or more detachable fairings form an airfoil contour;
• wherein each rotor blade further comprises
• the blade spar comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the blade spar pivotably secured to the hub at the proximal end;
• and
• each of the one or more detachable fairings extending between a distal end of one of the leading and trailing edge fairings and the distal end of the blade spar.