R66
Robinson Helicopter Company · United States · first flew 2007 · helicopter
The Robinson R66 is the company's first turbine and first five-seat helicopter, a light single-turbine type with the familiar Robinson bubble cockpit.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Light slim bubble cockpit on a tadpole fuselage, larger than the piston R44 |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Light slim bubble cockpit on a tadpole fuselage, larger than the piston R44
- Two-blade teetering main rotor with the characteristic Robinson coning hub
- Skid undercarriage with an enclosed five-seat cabin and rear baggage hold
The slim Robinson bubble cockpit and two-blade teetering rotor mark the family, while the larger five-seat cabin and turbine exhaust behind the cabin distinguish the R66 from the piston R44.
Specifications
- The R66 has a length of 8.99 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.06 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 257 km/h (160 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in November 2007 and certified in 2010, the R66 introduced a Rolls-Royce RR300 turboshaft and a fifth seat to the Robinson range, with more than 1,500 delivered by 2024.
Variants
Versions include the R66 Turbine Marine with pop-out floats, the camera-equipped Newscopter and a proposed TH-66 Sage US Army trainer.
Where you'll see it
It is used worldwide by private owners, charter operators and some law-enforcement units. It is not a UK military type and appears in Britain in civil and police roles only.
Related aircraft
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