Overview
OverviewThe Robinson R44 is a four-seat light-helicopter based on the design of the two-sear Robinson R22.
The R44 was first produced in 1993 and has been the world’s best-selling helicopter every year since 1999 with over 5,805 produced.
Robinson R44 was designed as a simple, low cost, four-seat helicopter that could be sold to the public at a price that
a lot of people could afford. The R44 sells for about $475,000 as opposed to the Bell 206, for example, which costs
$900,000 – $1,200,000.
Specifics
The Robinson R44 is a four-seat, single engine, semi-rigid 2-bladed main rotor with skid landing gear. There are a few variations of the R44 such as the R44 Newscopter, which features onboard electronic news gathering equipment, the R44 Raven which had hydraulically assisted controls and adjustable pedals. The R44 is also available in the Raven II model, which has a more powerful, fuel-injected engine with wider blades, which increase gross weight and higher altitude performance. Finally Robinson introduces the R44 Cadent in 2015, which has a cargo area instead of two back seats and has a quieter engine.
Speed and Range
The R44 has a maximum cruise speed of 124 mph and has a range of about 340 miles.
Utility
The R44 has a huge range of utility from short flights and inner city landings to medical transportation and news station traffic observation. The real utility value is not in it’s commercial use, the R44 is the perfect helicopter for personal ownership. It’s a fantastic training helicopter and if you can afford the half-million price, the advantages and personal utility offered by owning this aircraft are almost priceless.
Why choose a Robinson R44?
Personal helicopter ownership is a luxury few can afford but the R44 brings the cost of this luxury down to a level more people can afford. It’s not just the lower list price, the R44 also has a lower hourly operational cost and lower annual maintenance cost.
If you can afford the extra cost of a helicopter, this is definitely the helicopter for the everyman. From it’s fast (for a piston) max cruise speed of 124mph and range of 340 miles, combined with the utility a helicopter provides, this is a great helicopter for a lot of people.
