What is it like to fly in a Robinson R44?
The R44 has a surprisingly quiet cabin given the thin construction. One common complaint amongst R44 pilots is the fuel gauges. There’s no totalizer, only an analog needle indicating quantity for each tank. Even Robinson tells pilots not to trust the gauge, but fly the fuel burn and keep an eye on your watch.
How many knots do you need to fly an R44?
For significant turbulence, slowing down from 110 knots to 60 or 70 knots may be required. Much like the Cirrus, the R44 has been a revolutionary aircraft for personal aviation. In both aircraft, the accident record shows machines with lots of performance being flown by pilots without lots of experience.
What is an R44 helicopter?
[1] [2] The R44 is a single-engined helicopter with a semi-rigid two-bladed main rotor, a two-bladed tail rotor and a skid landing gear. It has an enclosed cabin with two rows of side-by-side seating for a pilot and three passengers.
What are the most common problems with the R44?
One common complaint amongst R44 pilots is the fuel gauges. There’s no totalizer, only an analog needle indicating quantity for each tank. Even Robinson tells pilots not to trust the gauge, but fly the fuel burn and keep an eye on your watch.
How high can a R22 fly?
In maximum hovering altitude out of ground effect, the R22 again comes through with pretty good numbers. For the R22 Beta, HOGE is 5200 feet, compared with only 2750 feet for the Schweizer 300C. The Enstrom F28F outshines the R22 in this category, however, with a HOGE of 8700 feet.
What is the range of an R44?
348 miRobinson R44 / Range
What is the cruise speed of R44?
124 mphRobinson R44 / Cruise speed
How much can a R44 lift?
300kgThe Robinson R44 Raven II is capable of lifting items up to 300kg, the Eurocopter AS350B2 has a lifting capacity of 900kg and the Hughes 500D can lift a total of 550kg.
What is the safest helicopter?
The Robinson R44: The Safest Helicopter in the World.
How much does helicopter fuel cost?
Cost ExampleHelicopter TypeAverage Fuel BurnFuel Per HourAS350 B3 Astar50 GPH / 189 LPH$210/hourBell 212HP100 GPH / 379 LPH$420/hourBell 205A-1++90 GPH / 341 LPH$380/hourSikorsky SK61170 GPH / 644 LPH$715/hour6 more rows
Can you land a helicopter anywhere?
Technically, due to their size and unique operating characteristics, helicopters can land just about anywhere, including in residential areas, in parking lots, at airports, and on water. In reality, though, there are FAA, state, and local restrictions that must be adhered to that can limit where a helicopter can land.
What engine is in an R44?
Lycoming O-540Robinson R44 / Engine typeThe Lycoming O-540 is a family of air-cooled six-cylinder, horizontally opposed fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter engines of 541.5 cubic inch displacement, manufactured by Lycoming Engines. The engine is a six-cylinder version of the four-cylinder Lycoming O-360. Wikipedia
How much does an R22 helicopter cost?
Robinson's R22 is the world's most economical-to-operate helicopter. The R22 carries a base list price of $250,000, with dealers typically discounting between 3 and 4 percent off list, but excellent used machines are available at around $100,000.
What helicopter has the most lift?
Lift Capacity: With a 36,000 lb payload capacity, the CH-53K is the most powerful helicopter in the world. It can carry everything from a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) to a Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) to humanitarian assistance to disaster relief supplies.
What helicopter can lift a tank?
CH-47 Chinook: Max Lift Capacity The dual rotor system boasts a combined maximum of 10,138 horsepower. With six blades, two engines, and five transmissions, the CH-47 can lift 26,000 pounds at sea level.
What is the world's biggest helicopter?
Mil Mi-26The Mil Mi-26 (Russian: Миль Ми-26, NATO reporting name: Halo) is a Soviet/Russian heavy transport helicopter. Its product code is Izdeliye 90. Operated by both military and civilian operators, it is the largest and most powerful helicopter to have gone into serial production.
What is the range of a R22 helicopter?
approx 250 nmR22 BETA II HelicopterSPECIFICATIONR22 BETA IIMax Airspeed (Vne)102 kts (117 mph)Cruise Speedup to 96 kts (110 mph)Maximum Range no reserveapprox 250 nm (288 sm)Hover Ceiling IGE @ 1370 lb9400 ft10 more rows•Jan 9, 2017
How much fuel does an R44 use?
Specifications & DimensionsRaven IClipper IStandard Fuel (29.5 gal)177 lb (80 kg)177 lb (80 kg)Auxiliary Fuel (17.0 gal)102 lb (46 kg)102 lb (46 kg)Pilot, Passengers, and Baggage (with standard fuel)773 lb (351 kg)723 lb (328 kg)Cruise Speed at Maximum Gross Weightup to 108 kts (200 km/h)up to 101 kts (187 km/h)10 more rows•Jun 29, 2022
Can you land a helicopter anywhere?
Technically, due to their size and unique operating characteristics, helicopters can land just about anywhere, including in residential areas, in parking lots, at airports, and on water. In reality, though, there are FAA, state, and local restrictions that must be adhered to that can limit where a helicopter can land.
What is the difference between a Robinson R22 and R44?
They will be treated to a more stable ride with the R-44s hydraulic assist and extra weight meaning the R-44 handles similarly to the R-22 but is less 'twitchy' than the R-22. Make the occasion extra special by adding a bottle of bubbly so you can celebrate in style when you land.
N600SR Photos
Robinson has sold more R44s than any other helicopter in the world. And with good reason. Fly ours to find out why.
About the Robinson R44
Robinson Helicopter Company, based in Torrance, California, is currently the world’s leading manufacturer of civil helicopters. Since 1979, they have manufactured over 10,000 helicopters, including more than 5,000 R44 models since its introduction 20 years ago.
Competitive Training Rates
Our training rates in the R44 are competitive with what other flight schools charge for training in a two-seat R22 helicopter.
Why is the R44 better than the R22?
The main reason is for safety – the R44 has much heavier blades than the R22, so it’s a little more forgiving during actual or simulated engine failures.
How many seats does a Robinson R44 helicopter have?
The Robinson R44 helicopter is a four-seat follow-up to the highly successful R22 two-seat helicopter trainer, taking to the skies 15 years after its predecessor. When the R22 stole the market for two-seat helicopters, Frank Robinson moved to do the same with four-seat helicopters. Low operating costs of roughly $225/hr for the Raven II have helped make this possible.
What was the first Robinson helicopter?
Variations of the Robinson R44 Helicopter. The first Robinson R44 helicopter to be produced was the Astro, certified by the FAA in 1992. This helicopter was in many ways just a larger R22 – and that shouldn’t be surprising as it was developed from the R22. It has a 260 hp carbureted Lycoming O-540 six-cylinder engine and flight controls ...
What is the R44 cadet used for?
And finally, Robinson just last year introduced the R44 Cadet. The Cadet is to be more primarily used as a training & utility helicopter. It also features the Lycoming O-540 engine but is derated to 185 hp continuous operation. The Cadet has a cargo area where the two rear seats used to be in previous models.
How much does the Raven hover at max?
Who doesn’t love power steering? It was still limited in performance, however. At max gross it could only hover at around 6,000’ (specified at 6,400’ but that’s with a new engine and clean blades). And that’s in ground-effect. Out of ground effect, its hover ceiling drops to less than 4,000’.
What is the complaint about the R44?
One common complaint amongst R44 pilots is the fuel gauges. There’s no totalizer, only an analog needle indicating quantity for each tank. Even Robinson tells pilots not to trust the gauge, but fly the fuel burn and keep an eye on your watch.
How long does a R44 take to overhaul?
There is no need to track life-limited parts because there is no such thing in the R44. The whole thing goes in for overhaul at 2,200 hours or 12 years, and that’s the only record-keeping there is (assuming all major components make it to this mark; they usually do).
How many passengers can an R44 carry?
An R44 can carry four passengers 250 miles at 110 knots – and then land in a 50 ft x 50 ft spot in the forest. That’s an impressive list, but you can earn the certificate to fly that mission in as little as 40 hours of flying. If ever there were a “license to learn,” the Private Pilot – Helicopter is it.
Why are R44s so dangerous?
A number of serious but survivable crashes have become fatal accidents because the helicopter caught fire and killed the occupants. The problem stems from a decision by Robinson in the 2000s to use “wet tanks” instead of fuel bladders. This increased the fuel capacity but left the tanks susceptible to post-crash leaks and fires. Beginning in 2009, Robinson switched back to bladders on all new aircraft and incentivized owners of older models to replace the old tanks, so at least the number of aircraft in this camp is declining.
What is wrong with Robinson R44?
What’s wrong with Robinson R44 pilots? Robinson R44 helicopters are death traps, right up there with Mitsubishi MU-2s and Cirrus SR22s – at least that’s according to a lot of articles you read online.
What happens if you taxi a 172 into a hangar?
If you taxi a 172 into the side of a hangar, you’ll replace the wing cuff and face some embarrassment. It probably won’t even show up as an incident, much less an accident. On the other hand, if the rotor blades on your R44 clip a hangar, the helicopter might be totalled.
How fast should a pilot slow down?
Robinson is increasingly emphasizing that pilots should slow down in turbulent conditions: “A pilot’s improper application of control inputs in response to turbulence can increase the likelihood of a mast bumping accident.” For significant turbulence, slowing down from 110 knots to 60 or 70 knots may be required.
How many fatalities did the Cessna 172 have?
The Cessna 172, a somewhat similar performing aircraft in the fixed wing world and one known for its good safety record, saw 59 fatal accidents in the 2014-2018 timeframe. With a US fleet of 19,678, that leads to a much lower 0.3% fleet fatal accident percentage.
Is R44 directional?
The raw numbers are directional, but the causes of the accidents and the stories behind the crashes are much more revealing. Here’s a quick recap of those 13 R44 accident causes:
How far can a single engine glide?
6. Single engine, you have a much better chance of making a good spot if you can glide 2 - 3 miles as opposed to just 3/4 of a mile.
How high is Big Bear?
I also go to Big Bear and the field elevation there is almost 7k, and it is surrounded with mountains on two sides so I generally see 9.5k before heading down for a landing.
What does it mean to fly above 400 m?
Flying above 400m means you are flying in the space of other aircrafts, it is therefore better that this is not done close to an airport to avoid the possibility of a collision with an aircraft that is trying to land or fly and you don’t get into any issue with regulatory authorities.
What is the highest height a drone can fly?
World Record of Highest Height for Drone Flying. Though the regulatory limit for flying a drone is set at 400 feet, the world record for flying a drone is set at 11,000 feet. The record is held by a European drone lobbyist who flew a DJI phantom to.
What are the technical properties of a drone?
Some of these technical properties that enables a drone to fly includes: the build of the drone (a lightweight drone is more powerful than heavy build – it attains and maintain high altitudes in a very short time). Drones controlled with wi-fi can attain higher altitudes than those controlled by transmitters.
Why do drones fly at high altitude?
To fly at a high altitude, you need a well charged gadget to ensure that your drone will land before it reaches a critically low voltage. If the drone is still flying when the battery reaches a critically high low voltage, it stops to fly forwards and it autolands at its current height. This can cause human accidents if the drone is flying over humans or it may crash into someone else’s properties.
What factors limit the height of drones?
There are two factors that limit the height to which drones fly – these are the drone technical capacity and the regulations of the country and the state in which it is flown. Most times, the technical capacity of the drone to fly goes far beyond the limit of safety that is placed on it by regulating bodies.
Why is it important to know how high a drone can fly?
Irrespective of type of drone that you fly, it is important to know how high a drone can fly so that you stay within the safe zone when you fly and ensure the safety of your gadget. In this article, we will consider the rules and regulations guiding the use of drones, world record for highest drone flown, tips for flying at high altitudes ...
How far can a sky viper drone travel?
A sky viper drone has a transmitter that enables it travel as far as 200ft. Thought Its capacity is nowhere near that of a phantom 4 drone, its height is ideal for wedding drone photography and movie shots. You can check a comprehensive list of best drones for wedding photography here.
Overview
Specifications (R44 Raven II)
Data from Robinson R44 Raven II Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA approved rotorcraft flight manual, dated 13 June 2005, and new Robinson R44 Raven II specifications.
General characteristics
• Crew: 1/2
• Capacity: 3/2 / 748 lb (339 kg)
Design
The R44 is a single-engined helicopter with a semi-rigid two-bladed main rotor, a two-bladed tail rotor and a skid landing gear. It has an enclosed cabin with two rows of side-by-side seating for a pilot and three passengers. Tail rotor direction of rotation on the R44 is reversed compared to the R22 for improved yaw control authority. On the R44 the advancing blade is on the bottom.
Development
Designed during the 1980s by Frank Robinson and his staff of engineers, the R44 first flew on 31 March 1990. The R44 Astro was awarded an FAA Type Certificate in December 1992, with the first deliveries taking place in January 1993. The first R44 Newscopter featuring onboard electronic news gathering equipment was delivered in 1998. In January 2000, Robinson introduced the Raven with hydraulically assisted controls and adjustable pedals. In July 2002, Robinson introdu…
Operational history
In 1997, a Robinson R44 was piloted by Jennifer Murray for the first helicopter circumnavigation of the world by a woman, covering a distance of 36,000 miles in 97 days. As of 2014 , an R44 holds the piston speed record of 227 km/h.
Accidents and incidents
The R44 was found to be prone to post-accident fires due to damage to the aluminum fuel tanks, allowing fuel to leak out. In 2009, the company began installing bladder-type fuel tanks in all new R44 helicopters. It also issued Service Bulletin SB-78 on 20 December 2010, requiring R44 helicopters with all-aluminum fuel tanks to be retrofitted with bladder-type tanks to "improve the R…
See also
Related development
• Robinson R22
• Robinson R66
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
• Bell 206
External links
• Official website
Variations of The Robinson R44 Helicopter
Who Flies The Robinson R44 Helicopter?
- The Robinson R44 Helicopter, unlike the R22 but like many other turbine helicopters, is used for a variety of roles. It can be fitted with an external camera mount for a very cheap option for aerial photography. Even without the mount, the R44 still makes a capable, stable platform for photography with the doors removed. The windows can’t be opened so the entire door must be r…
Flying The Robinson R44 Helicopter
- Everyone transitioning into the Robinson R44 Helicopter needs to do some portion of their training without hydraulics. Flipping the little hydraulic switch on the cyclic and removing power to the pump really gives pilots some appreciation for the Raven versus the Astro! The design of the R44 makes preflightand starting procedures very easy. Sometimes you’ll get a finicky engine that req…
Summing Up The Robinson R44 Helicopter
- The R44 is probably the top piston helicopter out there. This makes it the best choice for operators looking for a helicopter that can fill many roles, such as training, tours, and aerial photography. Acquisition and operating costs are low, and maintenance is very simple. There is no need to track life-limited parts because there is no such thing in the R44. The whole thing go…
Specifications
- Crew:1 Capacity:4 persons including pilot Length:38 ft 3 in Rotor Diameter:33 ft Engine:245 hp (derated) Lycoming fuel-injected IO-540 6-cylinder Max Gross Weight:2,500 lbs Empty Weight:1,495 lbs (approx.) Useful Load:1,005 lbs (approx.) Fuel Capacity:46.5 gallons Max Airspeed:130 knots Cruise Speed:up to 116 knots Max Range:300 nm (approx.) Max Endurance…