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Old 31st Dec 2014, 19:38
  #706 (permalink)  
Hughes500
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
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To answer your question is like asking how long is a piece of string !
For example
My 500's have to work for a living, one has come back from Sweden where it has done 900 hours chain sawing in 2 years. That is hard work on a machine constantly pulling near max cont power at below translational lift speed so tail rotor gearbox's take a hammering !
My other does about 350 hours a year of which 75 % is load lifting
So not really a fair comparision against a private machine To give you an idea I have had the D model for 18 years. Most expensive annual including rectification work £ 24k best £ 9K. This year have had more than a few unscheduled maintenance
1. FCU gave up £ 3500
2. Tail rotor gearbox making metal £ 4500
3. Blades debonding £2500 although blade repair under warranty
4. Compressor impellor cracked £ 14k

But this is on a machine with 6000 hours and built in 1981

Henri I mean calendar items eg Airbus 12 year G check or Robinson 12 year rebuild or Bell 24 month TT straps Although Kaflex driveshafts now have a 12 year o/h life where as they were on condition

Would love to see EC blades with 20000 hours on them !!!!
To give you an example
MR trx 4000 hours TR trx 4400 hours
MR blades 3530, TR blades 5400 hours MR head o/h 2770 hours with

swashplate MR dampers 6000, Tailboom 10000,

Big difference between an MD and a Robinson is the residual value.
D model purchased 1999 for £ 175k turned down £ 350k for it 6 months ago
Most 500's keep their value really really well, in fact I have owned 9 of them and have sold everyone for considerably more than I paid for it.
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