Robinson R22 Beta Equipped with performance exhaust?
 

Hi All,

Does anyone have experience with Robbinson R22 Beta's equipped with the performance exhaust? I'm currently looking into one and it supposedly brings the performance up to almost the Beta II level but I'm a bit skeptical. If the upgrade is so miraculous and relatively cheap why isn't every Beta equipped with the exhaust?

I've done a bit of research but have been unable to find anything with regards to owner/operator experience.

I'm operating at 5050' AMSL with it being between 20-30 Degrees Celsius most days so a normal Beta just isn't sufficient with the work we do (Instruction).

Thanks for your input.

Regards
Devon.

I would recommend it based on our experience of one equipped thus some years ago now. If I remember I don't think cracking of pipes was an issue, cost was tho, about AU$800 from memory. say ten / twelve years ago. One up mustering it is not an issue in our warmish climes but we were chasing fuel economy, less power input etc. Those bits as I remember we were pleased with.

I'll try to get some more data for you including where it was made in the next few days as those involved are not far away.

I also for a time was driving around a '47 G5 once with tuned pipes. Oh boy loud that bastard. One bloke told me could hear me coming against the early morning cool winter breeze 18 minutes out. (that's at 75 knots for the nerds) No sir, no good for coacher mustering where one had to sneak up on cattle and not let the whole city know I was around. It was power plus and much more fuel efficient, but fatigue cracking of the pipes was a prob. We were lucky to have an engineer who had a bent in that direction. Fascinating to watch it running up at night time, looked like a V1 exhaust.

Another machine I owned for a bit was a 540 engined 47J model with straight out no muffler / pipes (went out up past the trannie). Wow, noise factor plus; no good for tourists where others liked to meditate in the vicinity. It went to Barossa Valley doing, guess what? Tourist work.

yessir, a fascinating subject.

Hi Topend,

Thanks for the reply, can't wait to hear back when/if you manage to chat to the chaps. The price isn't so much as issue as the cost of a Beta + the upgrade will give you (Theoretically) a Beta II for a good few bob less than straight out buying a Beta II from what I've found. Likely with better hours too!

Which is why I'm so skeptical, seems like it should be something every Beta should be equipped with and yet they don't seem to be nearly so prolific. I've flown one, which was also the only one I've ever seen/heard of, fitted with the exhaust but that was just after completing my PPL. I was one up and I also didn't have the experience yet to notice any difference in power.

Haha, that does indeed sound like a sight worth seeing and I wonder how long the other 47 lasted doing tourist work. One wonders why they didn't bother putting an exhaust on :confused:

Regards
Devon

Hi Devon, I did about 100 hours in one. From memory hovering weight for weight was about 1" less, and it used about 3 litres per hour less averaging over a 500 hour study. Hope that helps.:ok:

Hi Kiwi500,

That does help a little but what I'm most concerned about is whether it will be able to lift me (82Kg's) and my two heaviest students (around 103Kg's) at 5050' AMSL and still have enough juice left in the tank and power in the bank to actually do something.

Regards
Devon

Is it legal to fit such a thing, I am sure in easa land it wouldn't be as it is not an aviation part ? Would it invalidate ones cert of airworthiness and then your insurance ?

Hi Hughes,

It's an approved STC mod for the O320 engined R22's. Not sure about in easa land but under FAA and New Zealand/ Australias CAA it is legal,

Regards
Devon

Extractor
 

I did a few hours in one. Beta II performance from a bit of kit with no moving parts, impressive actually. Also gives your helo that vaguely phallic look.

Any pictures?

Exhaust
 

http://www.helicoptermaintenancemaga...Image_0002.jpg
Power Flow Tuned Exhaust System for the Robinson R22 | Helicopter Maintenance Magazine


Is this it ?????

I see what you mean by phallic now :p:p:p

I have no doubt it works well on the R22 . When you consider how critical an exhaust is on an engine . Even with todays hi performance motorbikes after market companies still make performance exhausts and you can still gain 4 to 8% more power . Video of R22 with powerflow exhaust https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyxtrqIXW6k

exhaust
 

Now here is a thought putting up the power of an engine, is the drive system capable of handling it ?

If it has the same performance as a Beta 2 it shouldn't be a problem, as far as I know Beta and Beta two have the same drive system, I would be more concerned about the engine, doesn't more HP mean more stress on the engine? If the Beta 2 engine is derated to less HP to increase the life of the engine I would think that an increase in HP would give a decrease in life right?
I'm not a mechanic though and I'm just guessing here..

The video says it was waiting FAA certification in 2010, would be interesting to know if it did get certified and with what limitations?

No its most likely less stress on the engine as the exhaust design was very restrictive . The engine spec is unchanged just the path of the exhaust gases is smoother .

.

This is a proven system that has been used for years in the automotive industry, Mechanics realized a "tuned" exhaust improves the efficiency (power) and typically call them "headers" or "racing headers"

It is simply making all of the pipes the same length and then have them bend and converge nicely to a single pipe to the muffler. Having equal length pipes insures each exhaust pulse is timed just like the engine and they do not work against each other , simple as that

The "art" is in making it fit properly in the helicopter (or car) , and determining the best pipe size (length & diameter) .... a high rpm engine wants short pipes with a large diameter , lower rpm engines (helicopter) can increase torque with long skinny tubes.

Whoever sell this kit would have worked out the best combination for the R22 . In many cases (especially automotive) the engine will also run cooler.

The increase in power is power that was already there , but was being wasted pumping exhaust , now it helps turn the rotor .

This is an old post but i am interested in getting one of these, howeve they are talking $7300 ..... not cheap at all