Robinson Helicopters delivered the 1000th R66 single-engined turbine helicopter in late July, ten years after the type was first certified.
The aircraft was delivered to dealer Gardner Aviation in Peachtree, GA, before being forwarded to its new owner, Monarch Helicopters of Nashville, Tn.
“Delivering serial number 1000 demonstrates the R66 is the top performer and leader in its class,” said Robinson president, Kurt Robinson.
Powered by the Rolls Royce RR300 turbine engine, the R66 recently passed 1.2 million flight hours without a single reported in-flight engine failure. Robinson says this demonstrates a level of reliability that exceeds EASA’s stringent requirements for single-engine helicopters.
R66s have also been flown to the North Pole and circumnavigated the globe multiple times.
Robinson offers the R66 with several options including a cargo hook, lithium-ion battery, fuel flow system, auxiliary fuel tanks, impact resistance windshields, touchscreen avionics, and a Stability Augmentation System (SAS)/autopilot.
The aircraft is also available in police, news, and float configurations.