Robinson Unveils All-New Single-Engine R88 Helicopter
Robinson’s first new helicopter type in nearly 15 years, unveiled during a special presentation on the eve of Verticon, is expected to be the new “pickup truck” of the sector.
(Dallas, Texas) Last night, during a special presentation at Verticon (formerly Heli-Expo) – the vertical lift industry’s biggest annual trade show – in Dallas, Texas, Robinson Helicopter Company unveiled its all-new R88, a twin-pilot, eight-passenger, single-engine helicopter.
Photo of Robinson Helicopter’s new R88 helicopter on display at Verticon in Dallas, Texas courtesy of Vertical Magazine.
Per Robinson’s website, the R88 features the powerful Arriel 2W engine from Safran Helicopter Engines (SAF.P) and is built for aerial firefighting, medical transport, utility work, and tourism.
According to Robinson, the R88 aircraft is expected to accommodate an internal payload of over 3,000 pounds, a range exceeding 350 nautical miles, and a flight time of more than 3.5 hours. It will be type-certified for optional single-pilot IFR operations, expanding its capabilities for commercial and emergency missions.
Robinson explained that in order to make tough missions more controlled, the helicopter will be equipped with Garmin G500H TXI avionics, a 4-axis autopilot system and a health monitoring system. The aircraft also features large sliding doors and a fold-down rear door for cargo and passenger access, while standard and high-skid options allow for flexibility for various terrains.
Photo of the flight deck of Robinson's new R88 helicopter courtesy of Robinson Helicopter Company.
Photo of the exterior of Robinson's new R88 helicopter courtesy of Robinson Helicopter Company.
Vertical Magazine highlighted that Verticon marks the one-year anniversary of new Robinson president and CEO David Smith taking over the California-based manufacturer.
When speaking with Vertical Magazine, Smith said, “People who have gotten a rare opportunity to see [the R88] up close say it looks closer to a mini Huey than any other thing on the market. I think that that is the pickup truck that we aspire to, is something in that same kind of vein. That’s why we’re trying to really focus on more conventional materials, easily repaired materials in the field, such that you’re not going to ground a ship because you hit a log or you take off some rocks and damage the belly.”
Robinson shared a demo video of the new aircraft on On YouTube, demonstrating the wide-range of missions for how it could potentially be used and announcing that “this is the future of flight.”
Robinson has yet to announce R88 pricing and availability details.
