The Future of Trainer Helicopters?
If Robinson stops manufacturing the R22, which helicopters will be used as trainers?
CRAN has suggested that in Europe and Great Britain a brand-new craft, which complies with the new Very-Light Category, might allow for lower cost pilot training.
However, what about the US? It does not have a Very-Light Category. Do the US companies use the Schweizer? Or, do they continually rebuild and use older R22's? Does the used price of an R22 go up as more and more as companies try and get their hands on one to rebuild it?
Alternatively, will there be a future need for single-rotor trainers? What if the Tiltrotors and other laterally-located twin rotor configurations become the VTOL craft of the future?
Any speculation or thoughts?
Last edited by Dave_Jackson; 15th April 2005 at 23:16.