Robinson Helicopter Company announces FAA certification of a new empennage configuration for the R66 Turbine. Following years of development and testing, the new empennage provides enhanced roll stability during high-speed flight. The configuration replaces the existing 2,000-hour TBO horizontal stabilizer with a 4,000-hour TBO symmetrical horizontal stabilizer mounted on the tail cone and positioned forward of the original.
The new empennage configuration is standard on all new production FAA-registered R66 Turbine helicopters and will include a new 4,000-hour TBO tail cone. Commencing with R66 S/N 1279, Robinson will begin delivering FAA-registered R66 production aircraft with the new empennage and tail cone.
Robinson is working with civil airworthiness authorities around the world to obtain foreign validations. As these regulatory approvals are obtained, foreign-registered R66s will be delivered with the new empennage.
For more than 50 years, Robinson Helicopter has been at the forefront of the helicopter industry by delivering safety-enhancing technologies including OEM-designed crash-resistant fuel cells, 4K cockpit video cameras, autopilot systems, and NVG-compatible cockpits. Robinson is committed to developing, manufacturing, and supporting the most reliable and efficient helicopters in the industry.
The five-seat R66 TURBINE and R66 TURBINE MARINE helicopters are reliable, economical and easy to maintain. R66s have a two-bladed rotor system, T-bar cyclic, hydraulically boosted controls that eliminate cyclic and collective feedback forces, and streamlined instrument panels. The R66’s spacious 300 lb capacity baggage compartment along with the powerful Rolls Royce RR300 turbine engine give operators greater utility. The lightweight RR300 engine operates on readily available Jet A fuel, delivering increased reserve power, additional payload, and improved altitude performance. The R66 meets the FAA’s current crashworthiness regulations with energy-absorbing seats and a crashworthy fuel system.
