I went around the Factory late last year and there was no sign of anything relating to the R66 and no discussion about it. Seems it's all in a restricted area.

No doubt, like other Robinson products, it will probably be a sales success in due course, but as ever, it doesn't mean it will be the best helicopter for the money (new or used).

Enstrom really should be marketing the 480B better, it's a very good package.

I heard that they should start arriving by October 2010 in the UK although no doubt this could be delayed...

Hopefully Big Frank will reveal the progress on the R66 at the Heliexpo next month and maybe we'll see what the final R66 will actually look like.

Night Owl, it'll be on sale only in the US for a year after launch, then ROTW. I believe the plan is one per distributor worldwide. Then the public.

nigelh, please be careful with the pilots changing the seats around statements. Where I operate the CAA is getting so strict that a pilot may no longer remove a quick release door of a R22/AS350. A licensed engineer on type must remove seats incl the co pilot quick release and even has to certify the bambi bucket and once it is hooked certify the installation.

"Where I operate the CAA is getting so strict that a pilot may no longer remove a quick release door of a R22/AS350. A licensed engineer on type must remove seats incl the co pilot quick release and even has to certify the bambi bucket and once it is hooked certify the installation."

At some point it will be so out of hand, that you cannot start-up anymore!:mad:

Than everything will stop. The CAA-"specialists" will all get fired, because if there is no one flying anymore we don't need them! :E

A couple of months later we start again (all by ourselves) and hopefully it will be many years before CAA is all mad again! :}


Cheers,,3top :cool:

As far as i am aware the seats are designed to be idiot proof and therefore a pilot can change them !! But i agree on your point ....as for the 480B being under rated i couldnt agree more . I have seen them for years and never ever considered owning one . After flying an AS 350 for many years going back to a 206 feels like going from a ferrari to a bus ...when i jumped in and flew the 480B ( not with any view to buy one ) i liked it straight away . 3 blades make for a much nicer experience in comfort and manoevreability ..no neg G issues etc and it has to have the best cockpit of ANY heli incl the 350 !! Masses f room with 3 big pax and a perfect place for the dog in the footwell !!! Have done a hundred hrs in it now and honestly do not miss the 350 ..especially the bills . I reckon it costs 1/3rd of a 350 to run and probably 25% less than a 206 . 3 1/2 hrs endurance makes up for lack of speed ( 115kn) as most places can be reached without fuel stop. Good 4 yr old machine with under 1,000 hrs will cost around £300k same as a 20 yr old jetbanger with 5,000 hrs !!

RHC now accepting R66 orders
 

Robinson is now accepting orders for the R66. This info comes from my RHC dealer.

R66 photos and pricing
 

I see there's some information now available, ahead of HAI's show in Houston, on this page here.

Look what I found!
 

Robinson Helicopter Company Newscopter Page

Prices to download as well, no direct link from the Robinson site though!

http://www.r44sales.com/documents/RH...essRelease.pdf

The following data is taken directly from the RHC press release which specifically states that "R66 SPECIFICATIONS ARE BASED ON PRELIMINARY TEST DATA AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE"

R66 Is Go.
 

Well folks-get your cheque books out. RHC now taking orders for the R66. Hope its a hit.

Hope all Ppruners well.

JR

Robinson taking orders for R66 at $770K
 

Just noticed this - is this new or did I miss something?

ROBINSON Turbine Helicopters, Used ROBINSON Turbine Helicopters, ROBINSON Turbine Helicopters For Sale At Controller.com

R66 is testing today at Big Bear City Airport

Nigel: "Matari ...you probably have the answer by now but all of those seating configs can be changed by the pilot by just moving seats , so yes you can have duals and 4 people . Great machine and best value on the market by a mile and v v cheap to run 10 /10"

The rear seats in the 480B look impossibly small when the front seat is in place - and thats with the front seat moved quiite a way forward and duals removed. The front seat passenger looks then like he obscures much of the pilot's view to the right.

At least the R66 looks like it can carry 5 with duals in place?

To me, the thing that would make the R66 a non starter for a private owned machine would be the 12 year limit.

Does anyone know if R66 will have the 12 year limit?

Performance and Pricing
 

Sloane Helicopters have released prelim performance (nothing seems to have changed from Robinsons previously given figures) and pricing $790K ex factory here

R66 FAA certification next month?
 

Looks like a date has been set - link

Can't believe I'm the first one on here...
 

http://www.robinsonheli.com/prarchiv...ertificate.pdf

Certification acheived. I wonder when the first blade will delaminate:)

I wonder when the first starts in the GOM.

Have any been shipped to customers yet? I heard that they had a few sitting on the show room floor ready to go.
Would be interesting to hear how they are going in the field.
NiB