Robinson R44 Raven
The Robinson R44 is a light, piston-engine helicopter that has become one of the best-selling civilian helicopters in the world since its introduction in 1993. Its relatively low cost to buy and operate, compared with turbine helicopters, made helicopter flying newly accessible to flight schools, tour operators, and private owners. A two-bladed main rotor and simple mechanical design keep maintenance straightforward compared with more complex turbine helicopters. It's widely used today for flight training, sightseeing tours, and personal transport around the world.
.jpg){kind=link}
Did you know?
The R44 is a piston-powered helicopter with a simple two-bladed main rotor, the affordable trainer behind much civilian flying.
Specifications
| Length | 11.7 m (38 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 3.2 m (10 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 10.1 m (33 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 4 |
| Persons on board | 4 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 1.1 t |
| Range | 300 NM (556 km) |
| Maximum speed | 130 kt (241 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 8,000 ft (2,438 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s) |
| Fuel capacity | 116 l |
| Engines | Lycoming O-540 |
| Units built | 6,866 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Robinson R44 Raven starts as a Common catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Robinson, the R44 Raven family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
Catch it yourself.CatchFlights shows the aircraft flying near you on a radar, so a type like this one is only a catch away when it passes overhead. Explore CatchFlights.
Browse all aircraft types, or learn to tell Airbus from Boeing.