Piles of !!!!!!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Bus stop in Naples, FL
Maybe the 22 is twitchy and difficult to fly and unforgiving but learning on a machine like that makes you a better pilot because when you get to fly larger machines the knack comes a lot easier because your used to flying the 22. Who's with me? Also, from a PR point of view when you lead a student out to a 300 they look at you and they are like "this thing flies?" I mean look at the thing, it looks like someone just decided to build it in a scrap yard after a night on the town because it seemed like a good idea. While no doubt it flies lovely, they could make it look a bit sleeker and stop the airframe from cracking in mid-air, that is a feature that no helicopter should have in my opinion.
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Bus stop in Naples, FL
yeah what is the story with the leaking? our 44 is 2 years old and its not too bad, havent really had any leaks in it. the 22 is a joke though, if you don't lean forward in the rain you get really wet! all part of the experience though eh?
Iconoclast
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,132
Likes: 0
From: The home of Dudley Dooright-Where the lead dog is the only one that gets a change of scenery.
Then there is the...
The 214 in its’ original incarnation was a real piece of sh!t. The build quality was horrendous. The pull pins in the Cherry rivets were dropping out. The transmission deck was out of a Huey and it had the same vibratory problems as the Huey that resulted in cracking.
The vibration was so extreme that the trannie deck contacted a small oil transfer line on the engine causing it to fracture with the attendant loss of oil.
The transmission was mounted on a Nodamatic suspension, which allowed the transmission to move in relation to the engine. This relative movement caused the short shaft couplings to pump grease. This grease would plate out on the inlet bell of the engine and attract sand and other small debris. This build up of FOD on the inlet bell caused a combustion instability, which caused compressor stalls, which resulted in a lot of maintenance and the change-out of many dynamic components.
The rotors were a bitch to balance and even with Chadwick-Helmuth it still took several hours. The rotorheads were almost impossible to balance using the Marvel balancer. In most cases the allowable balance weights were not able to bring the rotorheads into balance.
Finally the masts would magnetize and cause the standby compasses to lock up and not move when the aircraft started to maneuver. It also effected the VORs.
The vibration was so extreme that the trannie deck contacted a small oil transfer line on the engine causing it to fracture with the attendant loss of oil.
The transmission was mounted on a Nodamatic suspension, which allowed the transmission to move in relation to the engine. This relative movement caused the short shaft couplings to pump grease. This grease would plate out on the inlet bell of the engine and attract sand and other small debris. This build up of FOD on the inlet bell caused a combustion instability, which caused compressor stalls, which resulted in a lot of maintenance and the change-out of many dynamic components.
The rotors were a bitch to balance and even with Chadwick-Helmuth it still took several hours. The rotorheads were almost impossible to balance using the Marvel balancer. In most cases the allowable balance weights were not able to bring the rotorheads into balance.
Finally the masts would magnetize and cause the standby compasses to lock up and not move when the aircraft started to maneuver. It also effected the VORs.
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: N2832W8100
If Mr Robinson says he wouldn't let a member of his own family in an R22 unless the PIC has at least 300 hours on type, well then that says it all.
They are Dangerous pieces of crap.
You would get more power from a hair dryer. Then you would from one of those cramped up deathtraps.
They are Dangerous pieces of crap.
You would get more power from a hair dryer. Then you would from one of those cramped up deathtraps.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: 48 Deg South
Zalt - tend to disagree on that one. There was a recent article out about the tail boom separations from the old model 300s and it was not the most favourable article about the older 300 series. The idea was started after reading about Dennis Kenyons loss. Schweizer was right annoyed when they read it.
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Bus stop in Naples, FL
Touchy. Everyone is entitled to their opinion though. You think the 22 is dangerous, I think it revolutionized helicopter flying and opened it up to a great number of people. Even if the doors leak!
