Robinson

With air conditioning, Bose headsets, and modern avionics, the well-equipped R44 is ready for personal or commercial flying.

Organization unveils new platform that enables pilots to sign up for aid and search-and-rescue missions.

The aircraft, on display last month at Heli-Expo in Anaheim, California, will continue its North American tour with appearances in San Diego and Montréal.

The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive for certain Robinson Helicopter models because of problems in the field involving the tip cap of the tail rotor blade.

The move is only the second such change in the company’s 50-year history.

The FAA has approved the new empennage design for R44 aircraft which includes a symmetric horizontal stabilizer and tail cone.

The change is designed to provide enhanced roll stability during high speed flight.

A lack of supply has restricted the rotorcraft manufacturer’s ability to test unleaded avgas in certain R44 models.

The engineer and pilot who founded Robinson Helicopter Company and created the R22, R44, and R66 has hovered west.

The OEM has delivered more than 1,100 of the light turbine helicopter model, with nearly 1.5 million engine hours on the Rolls-Royce RR300.