Robinson R44
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
I don't have a lot of R44 time - maybe 50 hours on the older types (Astro, Raven I) but I did get to fly a Raven across the US a couple years ago with a very experienced pilot in the co-joe seat. Never did it occur to me to apply any cyclic friction at all - it just didn't seem necessary - and we're talking 10-12 hours per day over two days, over widely varying terrain and wx conditions.
Maybe that was a particularly well-balanced ship?
Dave Blevins
USA
Maybe that was a particularly well-balanced ship?
Dave Blevins
USA
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: nowhere nearby
R44 rates
It's a start. I probably should have been more specific with the question 
Looking for dry hire rate, insurance + maintenance paid by owner all other costs (fuels / oil / fee and charges) borne by hirer and also a quick note about with or without GST (gotta know wether to factor in Kevin's 10%!!!)
cheers
Ray
Looking for dry hire rate, insurance + maintenance paid by owner all other costs (fuels / oil / fee and charges) borne by hirer and also a quick note about with or without GST (gotta know wether to factor in Kevin's 10%!!!)
cheers
Ray
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: scotland
Starting a Raven II
Just looking for a bit of advice on starting my Raven II. The guy I bought it from told me mixture full and rich, prime for 5 secs, mixture pulled out , turn over engine and as it starts mixture full and rich. If I do this it never starts first time, however if I repeat this exact process it always starts secong time. I have tried priming longer but seems to make no difference. Its not really a big problem for me but sometimes my passengers look a little apprehensive when it doesn't start first time
. Its always kept in a heated hangar although sometimes doesn't fly for a week or two. Any thoughts? Thanks.
. Its always kept in a heated hangar although sometimes doesn't fly for a week or two. Any thoughts? Thanks.
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: EGLG, UK
bvgs
All but 1 hour of my flying so far has been on the R22 but that 1 hour was in an R44 raven II. I clearly remember the instructor ( one of Heli-Air's high hours team on R44's) letting me do the start and making me prime for 10 seconds but otherwise following your exact proceedure described. It started with no problem.
What does the POH say?
Try 10 seconds and see?
Good luck.
Ian.
All but 1 hour of my flying so far has been on the R22 but that 1 hour was in an R44 raven II. I clearly remember the instructor ( one of Heli-Air's high hours team on R44's) letting me do the start and making me prime for 10 seconds but otherwise following your exact proceedure described. It started with no problem.
What does the POH say?
Try 10 seconds and see?
Good luck.
Ian.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 308
Likes: 5
From: Land of the Krauts
So, this will then be my first post, after reading here for quite a while, ive got about 30 hours on raven 2 and I can only say that 5 seconds of priming was allways enough, but i learned that you shut push in the mixture quite fast while starting, not directly full rich, but also not too smooth. In comparison to the raven 1 it seems that the raven 2 just doesnt startup that nice 
but otherwise it flys way nicer 
but otherwise it flys way nicer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Blackpool
Prime for 10/12 seconds from cold in winter
If no joy on first attempt prime for about 5 seconds on second start
If you have try again do so without priming
In summer reduce first prime to about 8 seconds
Have been operating a Raven 11 for over 3 years and usually manage to start on first hit
Regards
AV
If no joy on first attempt prime for about 5 seconds on second start
If you have try again do so without priming
In summer reduce first prime to about 8 seconds
Have been operating a Raven 11 for over 3 years and usually manage to start on first hit
Regards
AV
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: New Hampshire
Starting a Raven II
I have had a Raven II for 2.5 years and had difficulty starting until an old timer gave me the two following techniques.
For a cold engine (first start of the day),
Push the mixture in full
Prime for 5 sec after the light goes out.
LEAVE the mixture full in and push the start. Motor should start quickly
For a hot or warm engine (even if the engine has been sitting for a few hours since the last flight)
Push the mixture in full
Prime for ONLY a second or two after the light goes out.
Pull the mixture out
Push the starter and slowly push the mixture in while cranking. When you hear the engine cough, quickly push the mixture the rest of the way in.
For a cold engine (first start of the day),
Push the mixture in full
Prime for 5 sec after the light goes out.
LEAVE the mixture full in and push the start. Motor should start quickly
For a hot or warm engine (even if the engine has been sitting for a few hours since the last flight)
Push the mixture in full
Prime for ONLY a second or two after the light goes out.
Pull the mixture out
Push the starter and slowly push the mixture in while cranking. When you hear the engine cough, quickly push the mixture the rest of the way in.
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 4,975
Likes: 327
From: Hong Kong
I always used to get the thing to go one the second try also. Some times it was just a pig though. I seem to remember it firing better with the mixture half in. Failing that, crank whilst pushing in and out!
Fuel injection is a pain in the arse - and should be better in this day and age.
It doesn't do much for passenger confidence either when the motor doesn't want to play the game.
Fuel injection is a pain in the arse - and should be better in this day and age.
It doesn't do much for passenger confidence either when the motor doesn't want to play the game.
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: somewhere
we have had R44 Raven IIs for 2.5 years now, the starting procedure i was taught was exactly that, follow the robinson flight manual. however all 3 of our machines are at different hours and all start slightly different.
but sometimes they wont start straight up... its the nature of machinery. we do a lot of tourism and the only thing my passengers have ever said about the R44s is the clutch engaging.. now that noise is not great for first time passengers...
but sometimes they wont start straight up... its the nature of machinery. we do a lot of tourism and the only thing my passengers have ever said about the R44s is the clutch engaging.. now that noise is not great for first time passengers...
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: scotland
Many thanks to all who contributed to this. When the winds die down and the sun shines I'll give the various senario's a go.
Cotton Eye Joe, I would never have thought to do what it says in "The Robinson Official Handbook Instructions". By that I assume you mean the POH and if you do then, that is exactly the process I described but thanks for the advice DUH!!!!
Cotton Eye Joe, I would never have thought to do what it says in "The Robinson Official Handbook Instructions". By that I assume you mean the POH and if you do then, that is exactly the process I described but thanks for the advice DUH!!!!
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: BERKSHIRE
POH
I follow the POH and it seems fine I fly self-hire so evry flight is a different R44.
He is a photo of a Young eagles day we held last year at White Waltham.
quite a few flights in one day flying Scouts and Sea Scouts.
He is a photo of a Young eagles day we held last year at White Waltham.
quite a few flights in one day flying Scouts and Sea Scouts.