R66 Turbine - Could It Be Better?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 190
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From: Linköping, Sweden
R66 Turbine - Could It Be Better?
With the R44 you got a 100% increase in capacity but the R66 .. what a let down!
Doesn't old man Robinson (aka Frank the *ank) realise that having delivered economy we now want MORE SPACE and just a little bit of style!
If he was unable to extend or broaden this helo then couldn't he have bought the rights (they'd probably give them away) for the arcane FH100 and applied his economy engines, simple designs and composite components to it!
At least we would have had space for pax plus a back pack and just the tiniest amount of style!
I don't know how your British distributor does it ... selling both the ugliest and most attractive helicopters on the market!
Doesn't old man Robinson (aka Frank the *ank) realise that having delivered economy we now want MORE SPACE and just a little bit of style!
If he was unable to extend or broaden this helo then couldn't he have bought the rights (they'd probably give them away) for the arcane FH100 and applied his economy engines, simple designs and composite components to it!
At least we would have had space for pax plus a back pack and just the tiniest amount of style!
I don't know how your British distributor does it ... selling both the ugliest and most attractive helicopters on the market!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 231
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From: US
Robinson RH100 ???
Interesting idea Swedish PpRuNe - A Robinson RH1100!
The FH1100 never really seemed to penetrate the market but was in the running (so I recall) with the Hughes 500C and Bell 206 - they all emerged around the same time.
If I'm not mistaken there have been several attempts to revive the 1100 but its just never caught on. I believe they even made an attempt at making it more pretty with some sort of nose mod.
There was a very public indicent in the early days involving an 1100 (can't remember the details) but I think it was an airshow and this may have put people off.
You're right about the Robo's space limitations and lack of design - very sad.
The FH1100 never really seemed to penetrate the market but was in the running (so I recall) with the Hughes 500C and Bell 206 - they all emerged around the same time.
If I'm not mistaken there have been several attempts to revive the 1100 but its just never caught on. I believe they even made an attempt at making it more pretty with some sort of nose mod.
There was a very public indicent in the early days involving an 1100 (can't remember the details) but I think it was an airshow and this may have put people off.
You're right about the Robo's space limitations and lack of design - very sad.
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 51
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From: Moscow, Russia
RH1100
For starting American desiner he throw away middle gearbox for FH1100 tail rotor because this cost money. Then you must push tail boom up or keep it low and sell helicopter for also cutting grass - in Russia R22 is cosidered for this purpose hey hey ...
The langing system is also heavy for Robinson must make from tube aluminum and everything must not be heavy and all inside fittings become very cheap - then it can become Robinson 1100.
The langing system is also heavy for Robinson must make from tube aluminum and everything must not be heavy and all inside fittings become very cheap - then it can become Robinson 1100.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 72
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From: in the office
Y&BB are you aware the R66 has a seperate baggage compartment capable of fitting a number of largish suitcases in or more than one set of golf clubs plus a couple of bags or even a full sized adult, and no I won't be posting that picture...! So your pax with a backpack will not be an issue.
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 309
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From: Canada
It was a good aircraft, HellMan the public accident you are referring to is probably the one that happened at an airshow, during a demonstration the aircraft had a tail rotor failure in flight and the aircraft destroyed itself before hitting the ground.
There is a video of it and I have seen it, don't remember where but it could be on youtube.
JD
There is a video of it and I have seen it, don't remember where but it could be on youtube.
JD
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 110
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From: The land of the cranberry
Both products will outfly a Robinson product, shows how good thigs were in the 60'S
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,127
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From: Yellow Brick Road
Personally I prefer the 206 over the R44/66 any day. It's not just about speed.
Bear in mind that Frank is not growing younger every day and probably does not want to re-invent the wheel, hence the R66.
Bear in mind that Frank is not growing younger every day and probably does not want to re-invent the wheel, hence the R66.
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 231
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From: US
Gordy: Thanks for the clip - depressing.
I'm wondering whether a t/r failure while entering a climbing left turn at moderate speed would result in the same outcome for most helo types - any views?
Trans Lift:
I'm trying to imagine this, but ... I can't!
Y&BB:
Swedish PPRuNE ... why the disrespect???
I'm wondering whether a t/r failure while entering a climbing left turn at moderate speed would result in the same outcome for most helo types - any views?
Trans Lift:
I've often screamed passed a Jetranger in a 44.
Y&BB:
old man Robinson (aka Frank the *ank)
Last edited by Hell Man; 17th June 2010 at 07:29.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 190
Likes: 1
From: Linköping, Sweden
I still think the FH1100 is a better alternative than the R66.
Hell Man - (my old sparring partner) - good idea to edit instead of adding more posts!
Old man Robinson's nick name is not a disrespect and not a reference to some form of self pleasure
but originates from the early days when he was considering a Wankel engine before he selected the Lycoming! 
Hell Man - (my old sparring partner) - good idea to edit instead of adding more posts!
Old man Robinson's nick name is not a disrespect and not a reference to some form of self pleasure
but originates from the early days when he was considering a Wankel engine before he selected the Lycoming!
Last edited by Yellow & Blue Baron; 17th June 2010 at 07:36.
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 199
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From: england
dissing the 66
Blimy Guys,
have you ever considered how easy it is to bitch about a helicopter (in this case the R66) as opposed to designing, building, certifying, selling, supporting one?
Give credit where credit is due -- Robinson is one of the few helicopters that was born out of private finance, as opposed to billions of dollars of tax payers money through military contracts.
We are all entitled to our subjective opinions on the merits of any particular design, but the only guys that I know on this forum that has earnt the right to comment on the good/bad design is BudDevHeli, and possibly Bruno Guimbal - the guy who has designed and built and certified the Cabri.
They are the do-ers, we are the whingers.
Big Ls.
have you ever considered how easy it is to bitch about a helicopter (in this case the R66) as opposed to designing, building, certifying, selling, supporting one?
Give credit where credit is due -- Robinson is one of the few helicopters that was born out of private finance, as opposed to billions of dollars of tax payers money through military contracts.
We are all entitled to our subjective opinions on the merits of any particular design, but the only guys that I know on this forum that has earnt the right to comment on the good/bad design is BudDevHeli, and possibly Bruno Guimbal - the guy who has designed and built and certified the Cabri.
They are the do-ers, we are the whingers.
Big Ls.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 190
Likes: 1
From: Linköping, Sweden
Dear BudDevHeli & Bruno Guimbal,
Biggles99 says says you are the only two people on PPRuNe to have earned the right to comment on whether a helicopter design is good or bad.
Because I am only a whinger, could you kindly express your views as to whether the newly turbine powered R66 (marketed as a revolutionary step up from the R44) is in fact a revolutionary step up from the R44!
To most of us whingers it appears as nothing more than an R44 with a turbine engine and, in which case (in whinger-speak) might better have been marketed as the R44T (or similar).
Also, if you have the time, do you think - in your well considered right to comment - that the ancient FH1100 could be revamped to offer a better alternative than the R66?
Whingingly yours
Y&BB
Stockholm
Sweden
Biggles99 says says you are the only two people on PPRuNe to have earned the right to comment on whether a helicopter design is good or bad.
Because I am only a whinger, could you kindly express your views as to whether the newly turbine powered R66 (marketed as a revolutionary step up from the R44) is in fact a revolutionary step up from the R44!
To most of us whingers it appears as nothing more than an R44 with a turbine engine and, in which case (in whinger-speak) might better have been marketed as the R44T (or similar).
Also, if you have the time, do you think - in your well considered right to comment - that the ancient FH1100 could be revamped to offer a better alternative than the R66?
Whingingly yours
Y&BB
Stockholm
Sweden