And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Bruce- suggest you take a tour of Robinson's factory and lets us now if you would still consider them to be Yugos. It is a world class operation that manages to produce the highest qty of helos from any manufacturer. Might also want to take a lookt at some interview vids of their new Pres, Davd Smith; engineer from Bell and Robinson's are equal qty & support to them and has a phenomenal safety course. Try it, triple dog dare you.
Robinson R44. I don't even like being near them. I personally knew a guy who was flying the earlier R22 over the river right near the St. Louis arch back in the 80's. Witnesses saw the entire rotor system depart and the chopper impacted in the middle of the river. They found a seat cushion.
R44… 5K hours in light and heavy helos and wouldn’t get in one. The Army is running a flight school class through with these in an effort to save money. They currently use EC-135s. Going to be cheaper but hoping it isn’t more expensive personnel wise.
Light helos are subject to rotor bumping. The R22 is especially vulnerable. The FAA changed straining standards for those that will operate Robinson choppers after a number of fatal incidents. It can also happen with others. The Jet Ranger that crashed in NYC also had that happen.
Wife and I took a flight out to a volcanic island in a Robinson (smaller than the R44 as I recall but can't be sure). While standing on the tarmac waiting (and watching) the pilot engaged the rotor to the engine (its belts I believe) the thing shook and wobbled noisily like my ride on until it all calmed down. It flew OK but did feel a bit cheapish. Flight was over water which was comforting until I noticed the sharks patrolling the surf line.
Gained Private, Commercial and Instructors licensing with Instrument rating in R22 and R44. If you understand the flight limitations and avoid flight maneuvers leading to mast bumping they are no more and even less dangerous than any other helicopter. The best thing about the R22 is if you can fly one of those twitchy little things, all others are somewhat easier.
Robinson R44. I would not fly in it.
ReplyDeleteJust because the main rotor tends to hit the tail rotor?
DeleteBruce- suggest you take a tour of Robinson's factory and lets us now if you would still consider them to be Yugos. It is a world class operation that manages to produce the highest qty of helos from any manufacturer. Might also want to take a lookt at some interview vids of their new Pres, Davd Smith; engineer from Bell and Robinson's are equal qty & support to them and has a phenomenal safety course. Try it, triple dog dare you.
DeleteRobinson deathtrap. The Yugo of helicopters.
ReplyDeleteThe Trabant of helicopters...
Delete'Unsafe at any height'
DeleteActually, they are the Fiat of helicopters:
DeleteThey work, until they don't.
Just like with reserve chutes, if it ever fails, just bring it back to the manufacturer for a full refund.
Robinson R44. I don't even like being near them. I personally knew a guy who was flying the earlier R22 over the river right near the St. Louis arch back in the 80's. Witnesses saw the entire rotor system depart and the chopper impacted in the middle of the river. They found a seat cushion.
ReplyDeleteMIND YOUR PENGUIN https://tinyurl.com/vkdjwh3j
ReplyDeleteThe crash-y kind
ReplyDeleteR44… 5K hours in light and heavy helos and wouldn’t get in one.
ReplyDeleteThe Army is running a flight school class through with these in an effort to save money. They currently use EC-135s. Going to be cheaper but hoping it isn’t more expensive personnel wise.
"....the pilot could not recover timeously.”
ReplyDeleteReckon what'd they mean by that?
In time.
DeleteLight helos are subject to rotor bumping. The R22 is especially vulnerable. The FAA changed straining standards for those that will operate Robinson choppers after a number of fatal incidents. It can also happen with others. The Jet Ranger that crashed in NYC also had that happen.
ReplyDeleteThat's not what happened to the NYC Bell 206 LongRanger
DeleteRotor Bumping? I guess it happens enough to give it a name.
ReplyDeleteNever thought much about helicopters but that landing station for it seems like a winner.
ReplyDeleteWife and I took a flight out to a volcanic island in a Robinson (smaller than the R44 as I recall but can't be sure). While standing on the tarmac waiting (and watching) the pilot engaged the rotor to the engine (its belts I believe) the thing shook and wobbled noisily like my ride on until it all calmed down. It flew OK but did feel a bit cheapish. Flight was over water which was comforting until I noticed the sharks patrolling the surf line.
ReplyDeletedecisions decisions, do i take the helo or the yacht today?
ReplyDeleteGained Private, Commercial and Instructors licensing with Instrument rating in R22 and R44. If you understand the flight limitations and avoid flight maneuvers leading to mast bumping they are no more and even less dangerous than any other helicopter. The best thing about the R22 is if you can fly one of those twitchy little things, all others are somewhat easier.
ReplyDelete