R44 'must have' options
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Massachusetts
Age: 67
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For R44 operators...what options do you consider "must haves"?
I fly about a half dozen different R44s in addition to an R66 and a B206L3. I like the Raven 1 in terms of purchase price, but depending on what you're using the machine for, I have to agree that the air conditioning on the Raven 2 is really nice. We have air in the LongRanger, but it takes so long to start producing cool air it's quicker to just climb to altitude. Conversely, the R44's cold air starts in about 2 seconds and while it won't keep up with the solar heat coming through the bubble down south (I'm thinking Tennessee etc.) it works very well here in New England and from the few times I've flown a -2 in Southern California it works pretty well there too. Still, the price difference to go to the Raven-2 is pretty high and we've had very good luck operating Raven-1s.
I think I'd ask "if you can do the job with the R44 why would you ever change to the turbine? There are certainly some advantages to turbines, but the operating expense of the R44 is half that of a 206 and it's 10-15 knots faster (if the 206 is on high skid gear it's about 15). I'd operate the -44 and pocket the difference!
You also avoid having to worry about how many cycles you're putting on the engine, no worries about hot starts, instant engine response when you need it, a much more powerful tail rotor than a 206, and a good useful load. Arguably more places that you are likely to want to land at sell 100LL than sell Jet-A... And, to your point about the 505, the -44 has the nice open cabin that the 206 doesn't have.
I don't think the carb heat thing is a big deal, but if the air conditioning or pop-out floats are useful, then you're talking a -2 and another 100K... If you don't need them I'd save 100K and get a Raven-1
There's another point in favor of the -44 which a lot of people here might think of as a disadvantage. There are starting to be quite a few low time privately owned -44s that are starting to see the 12 year looming. There are some good deals out there because people want to sell them before they calendar time out. Some of those machines are really low time (lots of private guys only put 50 hours a year on their machines). So, if you're able to buy one of those and put a lot of hours on it in the remaining calendar years before the 12 year overhaul, you can get very low effective component costs per hour.
In any case, my general advice to people is "if you can do it with a piston you should do it with a piston, if you need a turbine for the job, by all means buy a turbine for the job. But it's a lot cheaper to use a piston if it will do the job".
As for answering your original question about what are the must haves... I don't like the bubble windows, or tinted windows. There's plenty of elbow room in a -44 and I'd rather have the extra speed. You can live with a single Garmin GPS/comm even though I think it's nice to have the second radio. Nice to put in some USB charging for your iPhone/iPad and an attitude indicator can be useful on those hazy days (but I've never felt like I needed a DG or turn & bank). Keep it relatively minimal, cheap and light... And make money with it!
Id keep it as light as possible re extras. The 44 is a great ship but can I ask why if you intend to go turbine you don't do it straight away and save a load of money??
You also avoid having to worry about how many cycles you're putting on the engine, no worries about hot starts, instant engine response when you need it, a much more powerful tail rotor than a 206, and a good useful load. Arguably more places that you are likely to want to land at sell 100LL than sell Jet-A... And, to your point about the 505, the -44 has the nice open cabin that the 206 doesn't have.
Raven II. Who wants to worry about carby heat ?
There's another point in favor of the -44 which a lot of people here might think of as a disadvantage. There are starting to be quite a few low time privately owned -44s that are starting to see the 12 year looming. There are some good deals out there because people want to sell them before they calendar time out. Some of those machines are really low time (lots of private guys only put 50 hours a year on their machines). So, if you're able to buy one of those and put a lot of hours on it in the remaining calendar years before the 12 year overhaul, you can get very low effective component costs per hour.
In any case, my general advice to people is "if you can do it with a piston you should do it with a piston, if you need a turbine for the job, by all means buy a turbine for the job. But it's a lot cheaper to use a piston if it will do the job".
As for answering your original question about what are the must haves... I don't like the bubble windows, or tinted windows. There's plenty of elbow room in a -44 and I'd rather have the extra speed. You can live with a single Garmin GPS/comm even though I think it's nice to have the second radio. Nice to put in some USB charging for your iPhone/iPad and an attitude indicator can be useful on those hazy days (but I've never felt like I needed a DG or turn & bank). Keep it relatively minimal, cheap and light... And make money with it!
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: stuart, fl s windsor, ct, virgin gorda, BVI
Age: 71
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i have owned an r44 since 06. with a great mechanic and a bit of luck i have flown 1,300 hours. nothing is perfect but the 44 gets the job done.
as far as turbine time and a little sunset flying the helicycle does the job. i have put about 80 hours on it since jan 14 and i would say say it is paying for itself on the hours i am saving on the r44.
as far as turbine time and a little sunset flying the helicycle does the job. i have put about 80 hours on it since jan 14 and i would say say it is paying for itself on the hours i am saving on the r44.
