Robinson R66 Helicopter Receives FAA Approval to Double Service Life on Selected Components

[jus]

Must now be really the cheapest turbine heli to run...?

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/ ... d-Maintain

Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC), the world’s leading manufacturer of civil helicopters, obtained FAA approval to double the service life on specific Robinson R66 helicopter components from 2,000 to 4,000 hours. This approval, backed by previously approved data and structural testing, will help operators reduce maintenance costs, enhance reliability, lower operating costs by 6%, and reduce hourly reserve for overhauls by 25%.
...
The extended service life applies to twelve selected parts, including five components within the main rotor gearbox. This means fewer overhauls and reduced maintenance expenses for R66 operators. In addition to the retirement life extensions mentioned above, the calendar life for the R66 main rotor and tail rotor blades increased from 12 years to 15 years.

[Tim]

With many components being the same for R44 and R66, that is great! I buy time-ex component coming out an R44, and give it a new lease of life in the R66

Of course I am joking, but you guys know what to look out for.

[Fransw]

Interesting to see how the helicopter(private) world is bracing itself for the "arrival" of the HX/HC50 or just in case it does arrive ...

[jus]

Interesting to see how the helicopter(private) world is bracing itself for the "arrival" of the HX/HC50 or just in case it does arrive ...

It's a fair point... let's say it does arrive in a few years time... what does that do the values of its immediate competitors, the R66 and the Bell 505?

The one advantage those two will still have is that they can be used commercially... and proven track records...

[Fransw]

Interesting to see how the helicopter(private) world is bracing itself for the "arrival" of the HX/HC50 or just in case it does arrive ...

It's a fair point... let's say it does arrive in a few years time... what does that do the values of its immediate competitors, the R66 and the Bell 505?

The one advantage those two will still have is that they can be used commercially... and proven track records...

Hill took 1200 sales away from them so far. So they have to react. The industry is waking up a little. Its about time after 50 years of hibernation. Competition is good for the end user..

[Ugly Duckling]

Interesting to see how the helicopter(private) world is bracing itself for the "arrival" of the HX/HC50 or just in case it does arrive ...

It's a fair point... let's say it does arrive in a few years time... what does that do the values of its immediate competitors, the R66 and the Bell 505?

The one advantage those two will still have is that they can be used commercially... and proven track records...

Hill took 1200 sales away from them so far. So they have to react. The industry is waking up a little. Its about time after 50 years of hibernation. Competition is good for the end user..

1200 deposits are not sales. Sales is when the customer pays the full amount and flies it away. It's also a non type certified Heli.
If the wheels fall of this project there is going to be a glut of sales for the other manufacturers.

[Fransw]

It's a fair point... let's say it does arrive in a few years time... what does that do the values of its immediate competitors, the R66 and the Bell 505?

The one advantage those two will still have is that they can be used commercially... and proven track records...

Hill took 1200 sales away from them so far. So they have to react. The industry is waking up a little. Its about time after 50 years of hibernation. Competition is good for the end user..

1200 deposits are not sales. Sales is when the customer pays the full amount and flies it away. It's also a non type certified Heli.
If the wheels fall of this project there is going to be a glut of sales for the other manufacturers.

True, but its still 1200 potential sales from Bell and Robo. The problem is the B505 and R66 are almost double the price. Competition is good for the industry! For me its exciting as hell!

About 70% don't believe in the HX50 project. Sounds about normal for any startup. Still a bit low though...should be closer to 90%

Imagine if he get it right. The sales will double in a short time...

[Ugly Duckling]

Non certified vs certified is the difference.

The SAAF were self certifying on the legacy aircraft until the Hawks, Gripen, Augusta an Lynx were delivered. All the Gates sealed lead acid batteries that I designed were certified by UK or local authorities. The Lynx and Hawk were available as standard with Gates/Hawker/ Enersys sealed lead acid batteries. The Augusta was okayed by the factory.
Saab said no way that they would allow any 3rd party to certify a sealed lead acid battery on Gripen. The design was done by me, checked by Enersys and the Mod in the UK. Saab wanted $,1000,000 to certify the battery for use on 26 airframes which is $38,000 per airframe. The battery cost at the time was R23,000 and the maintenance savings per year around R7,000 per battery.

Imagine the costs involved in certifying each component that Hill designs and manufactures themselves vs buying from certified 3rd party vendors. Add that cost to the NTCA HX and you will find that the Bell, Robinson and Airbus products are in the ballpark with known track records.

[jus]

Yes I think many turbine helis locally, even if privately owned, are on an AOC or two and likely do some charter work to help defray costs -- and that will remain an advantage the certified products still have over the HX50... which will have to remain a truly private-use-only machine, until the HC50 is a reality. Given the hypothetical cheaper ownership costs however, maybe this isn't an issue.

Although I have heard about some non-certified ZU aircraft being used on an AOC for commercial ops? Such as the Albats at FASH? Didn't think that was possible but apparently it is...

[Fransw]

Yes I think many turbine helis locally, even if privately owned, are on an AOC or two and likely do some charter work to help defray costs -- and that will remain an advantage the certified products still have over the HX50... which will have to remain a truly private-use-only machine, until the HC50 is a reality. Given the hypothetical cheaper ownership costs however, maybe this isn't an issue.

Although I have heard about some non-certified ZU aircraft being used on an AOC for commercial ops? Such as the Albats at FASH? Didn't think that was possible but apparently it is...

Love following the Hill project and really hope he will succeed. Important for the industry that it will succeed.
The certified version HC50 costs £725k still about 25% cheaper than the R66 and B505. But for a far more advanced machine. Although less complicated than those models imo(manufacturing/flying/maintaining). He promised to keep the pricing stable. If he manufacturers everything in house then 725k is still extremely expensive at the end of the day. So I believe the pricing will stay stable...
There are far more against this project than supporting it. Which is a good thing/indicator!

My only problem with the HC50 is that it's too pretty/"sexy". I'm not into bling bling things. But I'm sure Hill will aglify one for me!

[Tim]

Under some circumstances NTC aircraft can be used for some aerial work applications, but not for people charter.