Robinson Helicopters launches new R88, company’s first new aircraft in 15 years

Robinson Helicopter Company (‘Robinson’), based in Torrance near Los Angeles in California, has just announced the launch of its first all-new aircraft type in nearly 15 years. The R88 helicopter will be a larger helicopter than both the company’s existing R22 and R44 models, which, according to Robinson, is a helicopter “designed to meet a wider range of mission requirements while maintaining the company’s hallmark reliability, affordability, and safety.”

The new R88 will feature a highly adaptable and configurable interior layout and equipment and has been designed for a variety of missions, including aerial firefighting, air medical/air ambulance transport, utility work, passenger transport, and more. The company states that the R88’s adaptable interior design “allows for quick reconfiguration, supporting various mission needs.”

The R88 will become the largest aircraft Robinson has designed to date, with a capacity for eight main cabin seats, two cockpit seats, and a payload capacity of up to 1,800 lbs (816kg) with full fuel. It will also feature approximately 275 cubic feet (7.8m) of cabin volume. The R88 will offer a range of over 350 nautical miles (648km) and endurance exceeding 3.5 hours of flight hours.  The aircraft is expected to have an internal payload of more than 2,800 lbs (1,270kg) and will be powered by a 1,000-shaft horsepower single engine in the Safran Arriel 2W.

Additionally, the company states that the highly configurable cabin will feature a flat floor, allowing for multiple forward and club seating configurations, effective air medical and public safety mission configurations, and multiple future seating options. A fold-down, truck-bed style rear door simplifies cargo loading and can also accommodate a full-sized patient stretcher when operating in air medical roles.

Robinson HelicoptersThe R88 will be available with standard skids or optional high skids for increased ground clearance and compatibility with a firefighting water tank. Optional equipment to be offered with the R88 will include a 3,000-pound HEC-rated cargo hook, utility basket, wire strike protection kit, and pop-out floats.

In the cockpit, the R88 will feature a Garmin avionics suite, including large G500H TXi displays touchscreen controls. A standard 4-axis autopilot with features such as level mode, hover assist, limit cueing, and low/high speed protection. Standard data recording with a data link and a health usage monitoring system (HUMS) will also simplify the operation and maintenance of the aircraft. According to Robinson, the aircraft will be type-certified for optional single-pilot IFR operations.

In terms of safety features, the R88 incorporates dual hydraulics for pitch and roll for critical flight controls. Other standard safety features include an inlet barrier filter and impact-resistant windshields certified to Part 29 transport helicopter requirements. New LED exterior lighting, including pulse landing and taxi lights, tail rotor lighting, scene lighting, and entry lights, further enhance safety.

The R88 represents a significant expansion of Robinson’s product portfolio, which “addresses the increasing demand for versatile and cost-effective single-engine utility helicopters,” says the company. The R88’s basic purchase price is set at $3.3 million in the helicopter’s standard configuration.

“With the unveiling of the R88, we expect to disrupt the single-engine helicopter market, offering superior performance and capabilities at a competitive price,” said David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company. “As the most vertically integrated manufacturer of helicopters in the world, we have a unique opportunity to provide solutions that no other manufacturer can – a highly-capable and affordable helicopter with readily available parts and predictable maintenance. This is exactly what our 10,000+ existing customers have come to expect from Robinson.”

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