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Robinson R22

1979 COLD WAR MODERN

History of the Robinson R22

The Robinson R22 is a two-seat, twin-screw, single-engine light utility helicopter built by the Robinson Helicopter Company. It was designed by Frank D. Robinson in 1973 and has been in production since 1979.

Most of the flight tests were conducted at the Zamperini field in Torrance, California. Flight tested and certified by test pilot Joseph John "Tym" Tymczyszyn in the late 1970s, the R22 received FAA certification in March 1979.

Due to its relatively low acquisition and operating costs, the R22 is popular worldwide as the primary helicopter trainer and as a livestock management tool on large ranches in North America and cattle farms in Australia.

The R22 has a very low inertia rotor system and the control input is driven directly by the push rod without hydraulic assistance. As a result, its flight controls are very responsive and require a light touch to avoid overcorrection, and students who master the R22 are usually ready to transition to a heavier helicopter. Due to the specific training required for the low inertia rotor system and the luffing main rotor, operating a Robinson R22 or R44 in the United States requires special approval from a certified flight instructor.

The R22 adds tip weight to increase rotor inertia, but the smaller rotor limits weight.

The small size of the twin-blade rotor and the R22 allows the helicopter to be transported without the work of folding or dismantling the blades. Transporting the R22 requires mounting the tail boom and rotor blades on a truck or trailer chassis, which must be torsionally rigid to prevent movement and stress on the helicopter during transport.

Can take off and land directly on the trailer.

Specification

Basics

Years in Service

1979

Origins

United States

Status

Active.

Crew

Production

4,650

Manufacturer

Robinson Helicopter Company - USA

Carrier

Australia; Dominican Republic; Philippines; Portugal; United Kingdom; United States

Roles

Special Mission: Search and Rescue (SAR)

Ability to locate and evacuate personnel from potentially hazardous or dangerous areas, such as downed pilots at sea.

Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), reconnaissance

Monitor ground targets/target areas to assess surrounding threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

Education (General)

Develop the ability to become a dedicated student pilot instructor (usually under the supervision of an instructor).

Dimensions and Weight

Length

28.7 feet

(8.75m)

Width/span

25. 2 feet

(7.67m)

Height

8.9 feet

(2.72m)

Cured weight

882 lbs

(400kg)

MTOW

1,378 lbs

(625kg)

Wgt Difference

+496 lbs

(+225kg)

Performance

Installed:

1 x Lycoming O-320-A2B/A2C 124 hp flat four-piston engine driving a twin-blade main rotor unit and a twin-blade tail rotor unit (facing port).

Maximum speed

118 km/h

(190 km/h | 103 kn)

Maximum

14,108 feet

(4,300 m | 3 km)

Area

242 km

(390 km | 722 nautical miles)

rate of climb

1,200 ft/min

(366 m/min)

Armor

None.

VARIANTS

R22 - Name of base series; original production model; powered by Lycoming O-320-A2B/A2C engines. R22 HP - "high power" variant of the Lycoming O-320-B2C engine with 160 hp. R22 "Alpha" - 1983 model; Lycoming O-320-B2C engine. R22 "Beta" - with modified Lycoming O-320-B2C engine. R22 "Beta II" - equipped with Lycoming O-360-J2A engine.

R22 "Beta II Police" - Police model with speaker system and searchlights. R22 "Police" - Law enforcement variant. R22 "Sailor" - Day-only surface variant; Lycoming O-320-B2C engine; float for landing and take-off on water. R22 "Mariner II" - day-only surface variant; Lycoming O-320-J2A engine; float for landing and take-off on water. R22 IFR - IFR training model.

Maverick - Boeing's drone product based on the R22 helicopter. Renegade - Drone variant used by DARPA for testing. R22 UAV - UAVOS under development to provide UAV with self-driving system; strong weight lifting ability.