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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 with over 6300 delivered to customers all
over the world. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the R44 Raven II helicopters is R44. |
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Altough permit to fly was issued for Robinson R44 Raven II c/n 12958 as
D-HGVW in 2010, the helicopter was registered in the UK first. On 12 January 2010,
Robinson R44 Raven II c/n 12958 was registered G-CGGR in the UK with
Heli Air, Warwick, and delivered at Wycombe on 5 February 2010. The
2010-built Raven II was delivered to Heli Flights Helicopters, Bennekom,
the Netherlands, on 12 February and registration G-CGGR was cancelled as
exported to Germany on 18 February. However operated in the Netherlands,
the Raven II was seen as D-HGVW with HeliFlights titles at the
presentation of HeliFlights in Bennekom on 20 February 2010. Altough the
helicopter was based in the Netherlands and operated by Heli Flights
Helicopters, Bennekom, the Robinson was registered D-HGVW as based at
Sommerda in Germany on 12 April 2010. Rotavisie BV, Barneveld, reserved registration PH-SHB, later corrected to PH-SBH for the
Raven II on 9 September 2010. After Heli Flights Helicopters ended its
flying activities the Robinson R44 Raven II was registered PH-SBH with
Rotavisie BV, Barneveld, on 24 January 2011. Registration PH-SBH was
cancelled as exported to Germany on 19 July 2013 and the helicopter was
re-registered D-HGVB with Rotavisie BV, Barneveld. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
