The Robinson R44 Raven II is a four-seat light utility helicopter powered by a single fuel-injected, angle-valve, tuned-induction,
Lycoming IO-540 piston engine. 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 with over 6500 delivered to customers all over the world. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the R44 Raven II helicopter is R44.
On 5 October 2006, Heli Service Belgium, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, reserved registration OO-WEX for the 2006-built Robinson R44 Raven II s/n 11526.
On 8 January 2007, the Raven II was registered OO-WEX in Belgium with KBC Lease / Wex, Meerbeek. In November 2012, the WEX' helicopter was
seen in service with Fly-One at Sint-Truiden. In 2015, when seen at Antwerp the OO-WEX was used by helicopterflights.be. On 20 January 2017,
registration OO-WEX was cancelled as exported to the Ukraine. On 7 June 2017, the helicopter was registered UR-AHR in Ukraine with Challenge Aero.