Kruxl

Hmmm, I am not sure if Robinson will present the R66 to the public like this.
My guess is that they just test the turbine in an modified R44.

I don't think that is the R66, Frank is smarter than that.

Hughesy

Somepitch...I was going to type the same thing!
Its pretty damm ugly, maybe it come's with a paperbag!

somepitch

well on a positive note it looks like the masts of the r66 and an america's cup racer could be interchangeable...maybe a shrewd cost saving measure?

belly tank

geeee..........will have to hire a crane to look at the head on a daily!!
im presuming the corrosoin issues on the tailboom will be adressed on this model

Weve operated robos for 10+ years and goto say "F@#K what an ugly machine"......that of course if the latest pic is anything to go by!

Gaseous

Its payback time for all you Robbie pilots that slated Enstroms for being ugly.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Is the world ready for another cobbled together turbine?

Freewheel

I can only imagine - or perhaps hope - that somewhere in the Robinson Factory, someone's having a really good laugh at the comments here......

Of course, if it would cost money to put together a prank that size, and we know how Frank feels about spending money on frivolities..........

206Fan

Simon853

So, during the pre-flight, will you calculate pressure altitude at ground level, or up at altitude where the rotor hub sits?

Si

manfromuncle

The R44 and the "R66" always reminds me of this:



Anyway, PLEASE let it have a 'proper' cyclic.

jeepys

I doubt it will. There is not much 'proper' about Robinsons.

TiPwEiGhT

Blimey, I honestly cannot believe Frank is basing it on the R44. Don't get me wrong, I have been flying Robinson's for 8 years but there is so many things that could be improved on, he needs to get a design team in to make his new chopper, not draw it on the back of a pack of smokes whilst on the phone!

Where do you stow the cherry picker for checking the head?

timberwolf

If the tail pipe blows up, there goes the boom. If the tail pipe blows down bush pilots are going to start some serious fires.

funfinn2000

The R66 has completed it's first flights in August 2007.

Graviman

That's good news! Since Frank Robinson brought cost effective helicopters into the world, for folks like myself, i can only wish the R66 development team good luck. I'm sure when the initial R44 powertrain prototype becomes an actual R66 prototype the designers will have a good looking machine to keep everyone happy. Some styling concepts probably already exist.

Interesting to see the mast extension. The longer moment arm should reduce the cyclic response time constant, although it will also reduce dynamic stability from increased flapback for pitch/roll attitude change. I gather SCAS will be standard. I suspect the reason is to improve controlability in reduced g manouvres, to keep the machine competetive in a market place moving towards hingeless rotors.

Keep up the good work RHC...

moosp

In no way am I a helicopter designer, but looking at the jet efflux thrust line, I assume it was necessary to raise the rotor to get the rotor forward thrust line in balance with the jet efflux.

If you kept the current R44 head height the jet efflux looks as though it would cause a pitch up moment which would require too much forward collective to make a viable machine.

This may be complete b***t so I seek the expert advice of the pprune design team out there.

Graviman

Hehehe. It may be that simple, Moosp. Then again that jet output looks about the same height as the machine CG, so the extra thrust likely just reduces nose below horizon attitude. If cyclic control was a problem, i would have thought RHC would go the usual route of putting additional horizontal empennages on the tail boom. Don't forget the RR300 will raise the CG over the Lycoming O-540 engine.

I think it's just to try and keep the machine competetive against machines like EC120, without the cost of a bearingless 3-blade rotor. It just keeps a good moment arm above the CG.

mickjoebill

Maintenance and pre-start checks noted, is there a net gain in safety due to added clearance of the blades?

Less chance of the rotor injuring passengers or striking the cabin in an accident?


Mickjoebill

mini

Sod the looks, what are the perf.stats and the price...

Frank is no fool...

manfromuncle

Whats that extra bit stuck on top of the head, near one of the coning hinges?

helicopter-redeye

There is a cable taped down the front of the mast so it could be a "chadwickomiter" or similiar measuring device.

CDT