UH12 vs R22?
OK, I fly a Super Cub and I'm not a rotary pilot, but am fascinated by them and would love to become one some day. Nevertheless, I've just re-read the flight test of the UH12C in Pilot and I can't see how the R22 is a great design advance and why it should be such a popular helicopter. It's a bit faster, yes, but the high rotor inertia of the UH12 and its great stability must make it a far safer and better training / flying machine, surely? Add to that the fact it has only five lifed components of 2500 hours, all in the tail rotor and costing $10,000 to replace and it can carry three people, as opposed to two. Looks like a proper helicopter too and a decent example seems to cost about £40K.
Someone educate me: why is the R22 a better machine? Why is it so successful? If I was to buy a helicopter today, I would go for a UH12 or a Bell 47, (admittedly on the basis of extreme ignorance!).
I look forward to reading opinions.
QDM