Originally Posted by
nerf97
Thank you for this. This is actually what I heard about the R44 or the Robinson helis. 12 years use, 2,000 hours or 2,000 start cycles the operator will have to "return" the Robinson heli to factory for rebuilding or so. And will have to be repurchased at 50-60 % of the brand new price.
While the B206 B3 is no more in production but are in huge number around the globe.
Thank you for the replies so far. Quite a learning there already. Let's just take it easy on our biases although we are entitled to them by nature.
The cost isn't that high a percentage but it is a significant chunk, largely depends on the hours you do how much of a problem it is.
As they approach rebuild the value drops to next to nothing, they will then sit on the ground for 3 months while they are rebuilt.
in this neck of the woods the rebuild costs approximately 50% of what you could sell it for for post rebuild.
Hot and high performance is not good, it really is an aircraft for 2 adults and two kids, in the Bell we could always take 4 adults and know we would be ok.
The 44 is a cost effective aircraft, to achieve that there are compromises - you can see it in the way it is built and in how it performs.
If you intend flying with friends and family, I would take the tried and tested aircraft with a long steller reputation ahead of one that continually lives under a cloud and where you could become yet another topic of conversation with the faithful going on about your experience. According to them you need to be a real hotshot to fly the Robbie, must be the case since it is only the inexperienced that seem to break them.