N32AD, which now resides in the Smithsonian, undergoes testing prior to the type’s certification in March 1979. Photo: RHC
Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) is celebrating the 45th anniversary of its two-seat R22 helicopter. On 16 March 1979, Robinson received FAA certification for the R22, the first of which has been on display in the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum since September 2004.
Arguably, with its acquisition and operating cost, reliability and versatility, the R22 revolutionised the personal helicopter market. Indeed, in the last 45 years, several generations of helicopter pilots have begun their flying careers ‘in a Robbo’. In addition to the training sector, R22s have been employed in a variety of roles, from cattle and sheep mustering in Australia’s outback to wildlife management and surveying in Mozambique. R22s, with over 30 million flight hours logged, have done it all.
Amazingly, though, surprisingly few are aware that production of the type continues alongside its younger and larger siblings, as RHC President and CEO David Smith told RotorHub International as he showed us around the company’s Torrance, California, factory last month. “Because of this helicopter, pilots around the world fell in love with flying and built their careers from flying R22s. I’ve lost count of the number of people who’ve told me, ‘I started in an R22’. Yet they often talk about it in the past tense and are surprised when I tell them we are still building them. But we are committed to this helicopter and fostering even more careers with the 22.”
In support of that goal and to celebrate the 45th anniversary, RHC is offering customers who order three or more R22s a 10% discount on list prices at the time of order.
