Originally Posted by
Paul Cantrell
Gordy, I was responding to the title "all R44", not all Robinsons... I didn't remember that the Astro R44 started without a governor. There were not a lot of R44 on the east coast, I don't remember, but Robinson was probably limiting R44 sales to the west coast at first.
You are prolly right, I have not flown a Robinson since 1997. I have certificate # 11 for the R-44 factory course and flew serial #7, the first one outside of the LA basin. We lost it 6 months later after the Venti crash, (the first R-44 crash), and Frank invoked the recall.
As for the HP---we all loved it because it made touchdown autos a breeze with the battery in the nose.
As for low PM--the R-22 will still maintain directional control in the hover at 70% RPM---it was a demonstration we did with all student pilots. People tend to frak out these days with low RPM---I think over the years there has been a scare tactic. Same with Low G----that used to be allowed and was a required maneuver for the CFI check ride.