Robinson Record

[headsethair]

Just dropped by Torrance to inspect my new beast. Aside from the fact they produced a world record 434 helis in 2003, they are hoping to surpass 500 this year. They have now achieved their stated aim of 10 or 11 a week and in the last seven days (prior to Jan 15 price increase) processed 130 orders for new ships.

The walls of the new factory are being poured and they expect that ready in August.

No aircon for the 44 yet - still trying to get a unit that can deliver a real change.

Oh - and they now have 15 R44 Police versions in service with the phone ringing off the hook as word gets around how good it is.

I also saw R22 S/N 2 - the first commercial machine produced 25 years ago and sold to Tim Tucker. It's being refurbed and will be displayed in the new Smithsonian (at Washington's Dulles airport) with Jennifer Murray's RTW 44.

[CRAN]

Well done to Big R and his team. Excellent progress that has made a particularly significant contribution to the industry.

CRAN
:ok:

[Heliport]

Robinson Press Release
Torrance, CA – Robinson Helicopter Company produced 422 new helicopters in 2003, a record for the company.
The total included 219 R44 Raven IIs, 75 R44 Raven Is, and 128
R22s.
An additional 46 R22s were overhauled on the Robinson production line.

R44 and R22 production is already sold out more than five months in advance.

Robinson employment increased by over 300 employees in 2003 to a total of 950. A new additional building is under construction, which will nearly double the manufacturing floor space and allow employment to exceed 1,000 employees by late 2004.

Link (http://www.robinsonheli.com/PR-2003sls.pdf)


Headset -
You haven't told us which beast you've bought.

[LOOSE NUT]

Headset,

I think I know which one you brought but I will keep it to myself so as not to blow your cover - can you confirm do you fly near me

LN;) :ok:

[headsethair]

LN: It's the Year of the Monkey. I'm saying nothing. But I'm up to some sort of mischief.

[Pat Malone]

There's never been a better time to buy if you're a Brit.
Quentin Smith says in the AOPA magazine General Aviation that the dollar's fall has knocked £40,000 off the price of a new Raven II compared to its peak. The price of a new R22 has come back down to around the £100,000 mark.
Obviously the same applies to any dollar-priced aircraft (most are) being bought with sterling or Euros. And it looks like the dollar still has some distance south to travel.

[misterbonkers]

Big R put his prices up last week due to weak dollar.

[headsethair]

Mr B: Not quite fair. The RHC prices traditionally increase every Jan 15. According to Kurt on Monday, this year's increase is due to cost increases from suppliers. Most of the equipment on a Robinson is sourced in the USA, so the weak dollar shouldn't have much effect.
A 44 is now $8000 more expensive than on Jan 14 - which is why they processed 130 orders prior to Jan 15.
There are quite a few speculators out there. And they will be affected by $$ weakness. As the dollar drops, so does the used £ sterling price of a UK machine - it would be a gamble to order a machine in January and think that you could make a profit from it later this year.
If this drop continues, there will be some interesting effects on the used heli market in the UK.

[rotornut]

I recall reading in R&W that the first R22 cost $26,000. Times have changed!