Is this a problem and should everyone learn with a manual throttle? Given the number of governor failures reported across all types of helicopter, I think not. This means that little time is spent practicing manual throttle control when flying these types. The R22 (like the R44) has a governor which controls the engine and rotor rpm (unless overridden). For those starting out (I feel) it makes little difference to the overall learning experience. However, most of these people have already learned in a traditional helicopter and then don’t like the Robinson design as much. Some people don’t like the “shared” T-Bar cyclic control and claim that it’s not like flying a “proper” helicopter with a traditional between the legs cyclic. If you’re over 240lbs (17st 2lbs or 109kg) then you’re above the seat weight limit and would be breaking the law by operating the machine as such.
You may well feel crammed in and as a result take longer to pick up the subtle control inputs required to fly this highly responsive machine. If you’re over 6ft 4 tall or wide in the shoulders you may not find the helicopter that great a learning environment. Learning this skill takes time and can take a fair amount longer in an R22 compared to other aircraft.Īnother key consideration with the R22 is you, the student. Having a low inertia rotor system is no problem in powered flight as long as the governor / throttle is managed properly, however, it makes the R22 harder to fly in autorotation where management of the rotor RPM is crucial for a safe outcome. Loss of rotor RPM is a major safety risk in helicopter flight and the cause of many accidents. The primary of these is its low inertia rotor head. However, the R22 was never designed by Frank Robinson as a basic trainer and has a number of flight characteristics that can take a while to master. The R22 is the most popular training helicopter in use in UK schools because of its low cost per flight hour, typically around £330. With these factors in mind, let’s look at the helicopters typically available to ab-initio (first time) student pilots and their typical cost per hour. There’s little point wanting to fly the Cabri if you live 3 hours drive from the nearest training school with one.
Perhaps a bigger consideration is which models of helicopter are available at the training school(s) that are within travelling distance of your home. For example, if you weigh 17st (108Kg) or more you’re unlikely to be able to fly the R22 as you’ll need a racing snake for an instructor and would be over the max seat weight should you put on a bit more weight.Ĭonversely, if you’re young, slim & talented and training to become a commercial pilot with an aim to fly large helicopters in the oil industry, then you should learn on the cheapest machine you can find (probably the Robinson R22) as it will have little bearing on your future career. Once again, like the “ How Much Will It Cost?” question, the answer is not straightforward as there are so many factors that are personal to an individual student pilot.