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R22 Helicopters

	Above image from the official Robinson Helicopter's website

The Robinson R22 is a popular pilot training helicopter due to its low purchase price and low maintenance and operating costs.

The Robinson R22 is a small, light two-person helicopter, designed around 1973 by Frank Robinson and produced since 1979 by the Robinson Helicopter Company.

The first version was produced as the R22, followed by the R22 HP, R22 Alpha, R22 Beta and R22 Beta II. Superficially, the machines look similar. The R22 HP was fitted with a 160 bhp Lycoming 0-320-B2C engine, an increase of 10 bhp over the original R22. The landing skid assembly on the R22 Alpha was modified by extending the rear struts, giving it a slightly nose-down attitude on the ground and better matching its attitude in a low altitude hover. The R22 Beta added an engine speed governor, rotor brake and auxiliary fuel tank. It has been offered as an instrument trainer version, with optional fixed floats as the R22 Mariner, and other special configurations for police work, electronic news gathering, and so on.

The R22 became the world’s top selling civil helicopter soon after its introduction. Due to relatively low acquisition and operating costs, it has been popular as a primary rotorcraft trainer around the world and as a livestock management tool on large ranches in North America and cattle stations in Australia. With its quick response to control inputs, it emulates the performance of turbine powered helicopters, making it easier for flight students to transition to larger aircraft.

More information on the R can be find on Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia.

Specifications

Weights
Gross Weight 1,370 lb
Empty Weight Equipped (w/full oil) 855 lb
Fuel (19.2 gal) 115 lb
Optional Auxiliary Fuel (10.5 gal) 63 lb
Passengers and Baggage w/stnd fuel 400 lb

Powerplant
Lycoming O-360 Four-Cylinder, Air-Cooled
Derated to 131 horsepower at 2652 rpm

Performance
Maximum Airspeed (Vne) up to 118 mph (102 kts)
Cruise Airspeed @ 70% Power 110 mph (96 kts)
Maximum Range (no reserve) Over 200 miles
Maximum Range (w/aux fuel) Over 300 miles
Average Fuel Consumption 8 to 10 gph
Rate-of-Climb at Sea Level Over 1,000 fpm
Rate-of-Climb at 10,000 Feet Over 600 fpm
Maximum Operating Altitude 14,000 feet
Hover Ceiling IGE @ 1370 GW 9,400 feet

Comfort and Convenience
Low Noise Level. Heavy-duty muffler and low tail rotor tip speed make the R22 a "community friendly," quiet helicopter. Thick acoustical foam achieves surprisingly low cabin noise levels.

Visibility. Comfortable seating for two with wide, unobstructed views. Large windows in each door allow clear sideward vision from both seats.

T-Bar Cyclic. Robinson's patented cyclic design eliminates uncomfortable stick between knees and eases cabin entry and exit.

Ample Baggage Compartments. Both seats hinge up for access to concealed storage areas for carry-on bags, briefcases, supplies, and other belongings. A custom Robinson travel bag is standard equipment on new R22 helicopters.

Heating and Ventilation. Fresh air vents in the cabin nose and each door provide generous ventilation for pilot and passenger. The optional heater distributes heat during cold weather operations.

Off Airport Landings. High-mounted tail rotor and raised exhaust provide an added margin of safety at off-airport destinations.

Two-Bladed Main Rotor. Requires less than one-third the hangar space of a multi-bladed rotor.

Voice-Activated Intercom Standard. High-quality voice-activated intercom eliminates the need to use intercom switches during doors-on flights. Floor and hand intercom switches are included for doors-off operations.

Easy Ground Handling. Light empty weight allows easy manual ground handling by one person. A convenient tow cart adaptor is also provided for use with the Robinson Electric Tow Cart.


R22 Beta II
Advanced Technology

Pistol Grip Cyclic Controls. Ergonomic grips incorporate two-position trigger switches for intercom and transmit. Grips also have buttons for convenient storing and switching of COMM frequencies.

RPM Governor. No more throttle twisting; precision-engineered governor automatically controls engine RPM during all normal operations.

Rotor Brake. Allows the pilot to stop the rotor quickly, greatly reducing shutdown time and the risk of injury to ground personnel.

Advanced Warning Devices. The instrument panel includes low fuel warning light, main gearbox temperature, and chip lights, tail gearbox chip light, low oil pressure light, engine fire light, low voltage alternator light, low RPM warning light and horn, plus rotor brake and starter engaged warning lights.

Automatic Clutch Engagement. Simplifies start-up procedure and reduces the possibility of an overspeed.

Carburetor Heat Assist. Enhances safety and reduces pilot workload by automatically adding carb heat when the collective is lowered and reducing carb heat when the collective is raised.


R22 Helicopters
High Reliability and Low Maintenance

Reliable Engine. The dependable Lycoming O-360 engine is derated to 131 horsepower for long life and unmatched reliability.

Patented Rotor Design. Robinson's patented tri-hinge rotor eliminates lag hinges, dampers, and hydraulic struts. Thick stainless steel leading edge on main rotor blades prevents dust and rain erosion.

Inspections. No scheduled maintenance, other than oil changes, required between 100-hour inspections.

Lubrication. Teflon-lined, elastomeric, and sealed bearings eliminate most lubrication requirements.

Couplings. Maintenance-free flexible couplings are used in place of universal joints or gear couplings in the main and tail drive systems.

Controls. Primary controls are actuated by maintenance-free bellcranks and push-pull tubes, eliminating the need for control cables and pulleys.

Time-Between-Overhaul. 2200 hours or twelve years approved time-between-overhaul period for the R22 engine and airframe. All life-limited components have approved service lives of at least 2200 hours.

Worldwide Service. Factory-trained technicians at more than 250 service centers throughout the world use certified Robinson parts and tools to provide quality service for R22 helicopters.
 

For more information on the R22 helicopters or R44 helicopters, visit the official site of Robinson Helicopter Company . Technical  Information on this page obtained from the Robinson Helicopter official website. Some of the general information obtained from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia's section on R22 helicopters.

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