Robinson R44
 
The Robinson R44 is a small, light, four-seat, piston-driven civilian helicopter produced by the Robinsonhelicopter Company since 1992.
While resembling the company's earlier Robinson R22, the R44 is larger and faster than its predecessor. It also features boosted flight controls, a feature not found on the R22. The Astro model incorporates electric cyclic trim, whilst the Raven models have hydraulically assisted cyclic and collective controls

 
Raven    
       
R44 Raven II (fuel injected variant)

This is the current main production model, featuring hydraulic controls. Available as carbureted engine (Raven) and fuel injected (Raven II). The Raven II includes the option for Aircon and Night VFR.

    
       
Clipper

An Astro, Raven or Raven II, modified with pop-out or fixed utility floats, for water-borne operations. The pop-out floats, when activated, inflate in approximately 1.3 seconds from a gas supply tank under the passenger seat. The floats are deployed via a lever with an arming pin and breakaway shear pin on the collective. The fixed utility floats are kept inflated allowing for routine water landings. In Clipper with fixed floats, typically only fresh water landings are carried out to avoid drawing salt water spray up into the engine compartment. Pop-out floats are only used for emergency water landings.

    
       
Police

A law enforcement modification of one of the main production models, with a belly-mounted searchlight, a nose gimbal FLIR system, and enlarged windows. Due to weight limitations, the right-rear seat is replaced with an aluminum panel and the helicopter is usable only as a 3-seat aircraft when equipped as a Police variant.

    
       
R44 Astro    

 

Newscopter

An ENG (Electronic News Gathering) version of the main production model, modified with a gyro-stabilized nose camera and air-to-ground video transmission capability. Due to weight limitations, the right-rear seat is replaced with an aluminum panel and the helicopter is usable only as a 3-seat aircraft when equipped as a Newscopter variant.

Specifications (R44 Raven II)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 4
  • Payload: 900 lb (408 kg)
  • Length: (body only) 21 ft 5 in (9.0 m)
  • Rotor diameter: 33 ft (10.1 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 9 in (3.3 m)
  • Empty weight: 1600 lb (726 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 2500 lb (1134 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1× Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 6 cylinder, horizontally opposed, direct drive, air cooled, fuel injected, normally aspirated, 5 minute max of 245 bhp (183 kW), max continuous power of 205 bhp (153 kW) ()

Performance

The R44 can use either 100 low lead fuel or 100/130. Main tank holds 30.6 US gallons usable (116 liters), Aux tank holds 18.3 US gallons usable (69 liters). Tail rotor has a diameter of 4 ft 10 in (1.5 m) and the total length of the helicopter from rotor tip to tail is 38 ft 4 in (11.7 m)