Mon, Mar 07, 2011
I've been waiting for this one for quite a while and I'm
delighted to report that the result was worth the wait. The new R66
Turbine Five seat helicopter is a helluva machine and a joy to fly
-- and in a number of flight regimes.
Some three years and eight months after Robinson publicly
announced plans to develop the beast, the FAA presented Frank
Robinson with Type Certificate No. R00015LA, just a few weeks back.
The FAA also presented Robinson with an amended Production
Certificate that now includes the R66, allowing Robinson to begin
deliveries right away.
Robinson notes that the preliminary design of the R66 began in
2001 but engineering began in earnest in 2005 when Robinson reached
an agreement with Rolls-Royce to develop the RR300 turbine engine.
Frank Robinson had considered other power plant options, but
ultimately collaborated with Rolls-Royce on the RR300, a derivative
of the Rolls-Royce model 250 series.
The concept of the R66 is the same that launched the R22 in 1979
and the R44 in 1992: a helicopter designed to perform as well or
better than its competitors but for a lot less money. The R66 is
certified to the current amendment of the federal regulations,
including the latest crashworthiness standards.
Dealer and maintenance support is growing with some sixty R66
dealers approved. Robinson is continually reviewing applications
and expects to have world-wide support in place by the end of the
year. With a growing back log of orders, production is underway and
deliveries started with a limited number of local operators in
order to monitor early flight operations of the first several
aircraft.
Join Aero-TV for a flight in the powerful R66 Turbine heli!
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