The new Robinson R88!

[Bravo73]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

Completely useless in Europe, as won't be IFR certified under EASA/CAA, and if you want to carry 8 pax...are you really going to do it in a single engine VFR machine? (err no)

Plus there really is no "grand canyon" style need for large tour helicopters in Europe

Originally Posted by 212man

Yes, it is very hard to imagine the target audience for a ten/nine seat single!

I’m not entirely sure.

I can see a 9 pax aircraft satisfying demand at some of the busier UK summer events (Ascot, Goodwood etc).

Especially when your competitor twin (H145) is considerable more expensive to purchase ($10m+, isn’t it?) and considerably more expensive to run (probably £2000 more per hour).

I suspect that a number of operators will be able to make the maths work on the R88.

[PPRuNeUser469990]

Will you still have to re-build it after 12 years/2,200 hours? (as per R22/R44/R66)

[Hughes500]

I guess it will be how much can it pick up on a hook and if one can see out of it

[RMK]

Originally Posted by tegwin

Id have thought an R-44 with a modern engine and avionics system would be a far better sell?!

R44s already can come with the exact same avionics as for the proposed R88; Garmin G500H TXi displays and GTN navigators with touchscreen controls.

[PPRuNeUser469990]

Originally Posted by Bravo73

I can see a 9 pax aircraft satisfying demand at some of the busier UK summer events (Ascot, Goodwood etc).

But that is just a small handful of events in a whole year. How profitable would the aircraft be for the more regular 2-4 pax jobs for the bulk of the year?

[CGameProgrammerr]

The R66 would fulfill that role. This appears to be a medium-lift helicopter, for cargo or passenger loads that the 66 can't handle. Kind of hard to compare other helicopters to this directly - its target price is cheaper than something like a B407 or AW119, but it has more seats/load, and it looks and seems to function like competing twins, but it's a single.

[Bravo73]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

But that is just a small handful of events in a whole year. How profitable would the aircraft be for the more regular 2-4 pax jobs for the bulk of the year?

Judging by the number of requests which come in for larger aircraft, it would probably end up being more than just a ‘small handful’ of events.

And it doesn’t matter if 2-4 seats are filled or 7-8, the cost of the charter is still the same.

For the rest of the year, the owner could be flying him/herself and a couple of mates around in the newest Robinson toy. Probably just like they did when they had an R44 and then an R66. Plenty of those sorts around in the UK.

[DavidSmithHeli]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

Will you still have to re-build it after 12 years/2,200 hours? (as per R22/R44/R66)

5000 hrs. No calendar life plans at the moment but it is feasible to assume there will be some. For reference, our main and tail Blades are the only calendar limited items on the R66 and they are now good for 15 years.

[KiwiNedNZ]

Paul Kennard sat down with David Smith and chatted about the new R88 - plus an exclusive little tidbit that wasnt mentioned during the unveiling the other night

David Smith One on One

[PPRuNeUser469990]

"...why make people buy two engines when you can do it with one?"

Mmm.. tell that to CAA/EASA!

Personally I have always though UK HEMS/Police could easily do the job with a decent single

Paul Kennard sat down with David Smith and chatted about the new R88 - plus an exclusive little tidbit that wasnt mentioned during the unveiling the other night

https://verticalmag.com/press-releas...88-helicopter/

[Mee3]

wonder how a fully metal 10 seater that shares engine with much smaller and composite counterpart does hot and high.

[212man]

Originally Posted by Mee3

wonder how a fully metal 10 seater that shares engine with much smaller and composite counterpart does hot and high.

What other type uses the 2W?

[212man]

Originally Posted by KiwiNedNZ

Paul Kennard sat down with David Smith and chatted about the new R88 - plus an exclusive little tidbit that wasnt mentioned during the unveiling the other night

David Smith One on One

I love the fact that Paul’s nickname is included in the intro credits!

[FiveBlades]

Originally Posted by 212man

What other type uses the 2W?

Not 100, however I think it's more marketing, like the 2k for the kopter is any different from the 2d in the astar.

[Capt Hollywood]

Originally Posted by Nescafe

Looks like Hollywood was ahead of his time.

I’d better get a selfie with it for all the non-believers from 20yrs ago! 😁

Currently waiting to board a flight direct to Dallas…

See you there!

[SASless]

Surely Mr. Kennard could find a larger watch than that is making his one arm longer than the other!

[krypton_john]

Originally Posted by Hot and Hi

The R88 on display at Heli-Expo has zero blades. So maybe they still want to keep their options open. Also, the article in VericalMag shows no blades, and doesn't discuss the blades question at all. Biggest change mentioned in the article is the standard cyclic, and the Hill-style dash.

But based on the tall mast you can tell it will have a 2 blade teetering head.

[PowerPedal]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

If Robinson were genuinely concerned about the HX50 they would not have come up with this R88.

Perhaps they might have come up with an R66 NxG to deal with that!
actually looks quite nice.
and even nicer to see the sleepy light heli industry starting to wake up a bit

[SLFMS]

Well it’s definitely got one great selling point, it looks like they finally ditched the T cyclic.

Capt Hollywood you nailed it, repost the PHS R88 photo

[Tickle]

A discussion with David Smith / Robinson CEO about the R88 with a focus on the two-bladed decision: