@ hairyplane
Judging by the replies my contributions have stimulated, I believe I may have bought something to the table.
You may like to check "rules of engagement" Viz.- "Play the ball, not the man"
@13snoopy The last time I looked, Rotorway was edging towards certification.....I merely used the Marque to demonstrate the gap in price and maintenance, between "experimental"(not allowed in UK) and mainstream Commercial machines.(there have been kits built in the UK and successfully registered via the CAA...it seems that 3 hours maintenance was needed , per hour's flight with earlier examples.)
One takes one's chances with Experimental.
One relies on professional evaluation and oversight BY THE CERTIFYING AUTHORITY in a C of A machine.
That Robinson managed to build a certified, Commercial machine at a price-point way, way below anything else in the same category, was a real achievement.
With the number of "substandard / design safety" components being mandated for change, one asks if the machine would get certification today.
IMO the Giumbal Cabri has established itself as THE machine that is one price-level above the Robinson, for initial purchase, but a whole lot better engineered and far, far lower TCO.
I am not the only person to think so....suggest you look at Heli Henri's posting, re- Growth of Guimbal, sales and hours of operation.
this "upstart" doesn't appear to have any major component, safety, handling or snow operation deficiencies, as yet.
@ BLAKMAX. tHANKS, I seem to recollect a very comprehensive technical posting you made a fair time ago...maybe in the "engineering"forum?...regarding blades, delamination, rebonding and tap-testing.
I leave Robinson to the sky-gods....
Anyone who denigrates the skill-level needed to fly RC, has obviously never tried it. I know of a full -scale Rotary-pilot who is an RC enthusiast as well, he claims that RC is is far more demanding....several fixed-wing pilots have said the same....so, don't knock it until you've tried it and learned a bit of humility!