R44 'must have' options
 

In spite of the recent MR blade controversy, I plan on ordering a new R44 Raven I in the next few weeks. It is my personal belief that the new 505X will depress B206 prices, and I will transition to turbine in 2-3 years but I need a ship now, so I think flying a new R44 for 300hrs is reasonable risk/reward.

For R44 operators...what options do you consider "must haves"? Bubble windows, tinted windows, metallized sheafs,etc?

Thanks for your input!

I recommend ELT.

Floats.

More than one Nav Comm.

Nice first officer ?:E

A LARGE AMOUNT IN THE BANK

A spare set of blades ?

A chiropractor.

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??

I debated this question over the last few months. In short, the mission doesn't require a turbine and will only last 5-6 years. Over next few years I believe, perhaps incorrectly, that lots of older B206s will hit the North American market as folks upgrade to the 505X. The fixed wing market experienced a similar phenomenon when the Columbia300/400 and SR22s hit the market in 2004-5 and suddenly market interest in BE58/C421 fell off a cliff.
I think I can safely navigate the MR issues for 200-300 hours then grab a B206 at an advantageous price for second half of the contract.

Chiropracter LOL:)

If you plan to fly 300hrs in 3 years why not by a cheap one with 300hrs and 3 years left on the rebuild 2200h/12yr then flick the hulk?

But even better, just buy a tidy well maintained 206B3 or 500D and be better off all round?

R44 "must have" options
 

Givdrvr. Please send me a PM and I will contact you.

If you're really in Socal then I would put aircon on the must have list. Most of my R44 time was in one that didn't have it (in the Bay Area). What an incredible pleasure now that the ones I fly do have it! And it's a lot cooler here (generally) than down there.

Raven II. Who wants to worry about carby heat ?

Aircon, for sure.

2 x radios.

Garmin 695 mounted on top of instruments. (Or whatever it is now, 795 ?).

Doesn't need anything else that you don't get already.

Floats ? Only if you need them, slows the ship down a lot.

Arrrj

Definately NOT the bubble windows. They add drag and are worthless... besides that, they make the helicopter look like a bug, in other words ugly as hell.

You are accepting you will lose a lot of value on your Robbo but I , and other friends of mine , have always made profits on re selling MD500 ,s and the C models are for nothing !!

i would go the cheap JR/500 way as well. you wont loose money on it.

personally i dont think that the 505 will do much to the cheap JR/500 market when they start. it may reduce the price of a few of the newer ones that are still up there, but you are comparing a new $1m helicopter with a second hand $500k heli. And the 66 has already dropped into that market...

I think that the 505 will hit the 66, EC120 and cheap 350/407 market more, as it is about in that price range. the 350/407 market should be less effected, as if you were looking at a 505 or a B2/3/407 for the same money, i don't think that is a fair comparison, the only similarity would be the price. Totally different aircraft.

Buy a JR from your local Bell Agent, then take it back in 3-4 years to trade it for a 505. tell them that's your plan, should make them even keener to look after you!

life insurance :E

Buy a B206 now - the 505 won't have a bearing on the 206 market any time soon. Perhaps a small decline over a decade - but not overnight!

The depreciation on the R44 over the 2-4 years you own it will be far more than the B206 "price drop" over 10 years.

Hughesy, can you get life insurance if you fly a 44??? :E

Comprehensive tool kit.

Some sandpaper around a roll of quarters for the blade modification:}:ok: