Hi Henri,
Thanks for the reply...I had heard rumours that a turbine was being considered. For what it's worth, it really would be a sweet machine with the Guimbal suite of technologies and a RR300...but perhaps a little expensive. Maybe a Continental TSIOL-550, derated to 280hp? ...that would give the same derating level and a better power to weight ratio than the O-360J2A and it would hold its performance to much higher density altitude.
With G2 power-to-weight ratios this would give an all up weight of approximately 1350kg, of which 540kg could be useful. Cruising at around 230hp (65% of 350hp), should hit the much coverted 120kt cruise on a fuel burn of around 21US Gal/hr.
So with 3hrs fuel (170kg), it could carry 4 x 85kg passengers and 30kg of baggage.
Sell this for £350K (€420K) and I seriously doubt anyone would by an R44 again.
Perhaps we could call it the Guimbal G4 Cran!
Thanks again for the reply.
CRAN