TRANSFER OF TURBINE BLADES TO ROTOR WHEEL

A fixture for transferring turbine blades may include: a first body having an arcuate radially inward surface shaped to contact a rotor of a turbomachine, and a radially outward surface including a plurality of dovetail slots therein shaped to engage the dovetails of the plurality of turbine blades; and a first alignment aperture extending axially through the first body relative to a centerline axis, and positioned for alignment with a portion of the rotor wheel such that the plurality of dovetail slots of the first body are substantially axially aligned with the plurality of dovetail slots of the rotor wheel for at least partial transfer of the turbine blade thereto from the fixture, wherein the dovetails of the plurality of turbine blades are slidably removable from the plurality of dovetail slots of the first body for guided insertion into the plurality of dovetail slots of the rotor wheel.