The Robinson R44 Clipper II is a four-seat light utility helicopter
powered by a single fuel-injected, angle-valve, tuned-induction,
Lycoming IO-540 piston engine. The Clipper II is an R44 Raven II offered
with fixed utility floats for extended flights over water. The Robinson
R44 is built and developed by the Robinson Helicopter Company in
Torrance, California. Design of the Model R44 began in 1985. The first
prototype flew on 31 March 1990 and the second in January 1991. Sales
efforts got under way in March 1992 at a base price of 235.000
US-Dollars. FAA Type Certification for the R44 Astro was achieved on 10
December 1992, and the first Robinson R44 Astro was delivered in
February 1993. In 2000, the R44 Astro was replaced as the main
production model by the hydraulically-assisted R44 Raven. The
development from the first R44 Astro in 1993, via the R44 Raven I to the
first R44 Raven II delivered in 2002, has been remarkable. For the pilot
the most important difference is the conversion from a carbureted engine
on the Astro to injection and hydraulic controls on the Raven II. Today
the four-seat Model R44 is the world's most popular helicopter of which
already over 6400 are delivered to customers all over the world. The
ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the R44 Raven II helicopters is R44.
On 3 October 2003, Robinson R44 Clipper II c/n 10164 was registered OO-HEY in Belgium with the MMR-Group as owner and Paramount Helicopters,
Diest as operator. On 29 January 2005, the OO-HEY was damaged in a heavy landing at Heliport Diest / Webbekom. After being repaired the
2003-built Clipper II OO-HEY resumed flight work. Over the years, Robinson R44 Clipper II OO-HEY had a HELIVENTURE sticker at the tailboom,
first "HELIVENTURE Coast to Coast from Paris to Oshkosh July'07" and later "HELIVENTURE Coast to Coast from Paris to Oshkosh July'10". In 2015,
Paramount Helicopters had to end its activities due to financial problems. On 6 October 2016, the court of commerce in Leuven declared Paramount
Helicopters bankrupt and the heliport Diest / Webbekom was closed. Since 30 March 2018, the OO-HEY is operated by Heli & Co, Liege. On 15 August
2018, Clipper II OO-HEY was seen during a stop for fuel at Hoogeveen airfield in the Netherlands. The helicopter was operated on monitoring flights
over the Netherlands on behalf of the Gasunie.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
