HeadT : "Rubbish, they are ancient and frightenly under engineered to do the job that they were supposed to have been designed for."
It was going well until you wrote that. What a statement - no factual foundation whatsoever. And if I was FR I'd track down your IP address and whip you with a writ.
In what way can you prove that they are "under engineered to do the job that they were supposed to have been designed for." ??
You're shooting from the hip with your keyboard.
The R22 was designed as a personal transport helicopter and has a certification for that purpose. (Most of the accidents happen in training flights with an instructor onboard.....) The design is based in the mid-70s - but that's the case throughout aviation.
If there's a problem it's with the certifying authorities who make it prohibitively expensive to upgrade aircraft.
Presumably A-B would love to make a new Jetranger with FADEC etc - but they can't without putting up the price considerably due to re-certification.
I wouldn't be at all surprised in RHC are looking to replace the R22 with another 2-seat trainer using a newer engine, some EFIS and all-round better performance. But it won't be anything like the price of the 22.