6 ms·

Sure wish I had a couple million lying around to go buy a helicopter! :P

by X-Istence 10y ago

kevin_thibedeau 10y ago
Robinson R22 is < $300k. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_R22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_R22
- lwhalen 10y ago
  And at that price, for me, it might as well be a billion dollars :-)
  - cpncrunch 10y ago
    Thats new price. You can buy them for under 100k second hand. Have a look on conttoller.com.
    - lwhalen 10y ago
      Half a billion, then. Mang, I'm trying to buy a house right now, $20k is a far-off and scary number to me where I'm at.
    - cpncrunch 10y ago
      That should be controller.com
- newman314 10y ago
  I must admit that I find the idea of owning a R22 or R44 quite attractive. Too bad the wallet is not cooperative.
  - dingaling 10y ago
    Robbos are 'cheap' up-front because they're built for a 12-year / 2,200 flying-hour service life; they're basically disposable helicopters. They can be overhauled and rebuilt at that point, and every subsequent 2,200 hours, but it's expensive. Furthermore here are some service-life-hours comparisons between components on an R22 and an Enstrom F-28C of the same category ( edit: updated from the FAA TCDS ): Main rotor blades: 2,200 / unlimited on-condition Main rotor spindle: 4,400 / 17,700 Tail rotor blade: 2,200 / 3,100 Tail rotor attachment: 2,200 / 6,200 Source: an acquaintance who runs a training school with R22s. He loves flying them but sells them on ASAP when they're anywhere near their service life. Incidentally Mr Robinson originally designed the R22 with a target list-price of $22,000, hence the name.
    - newman314 10y ago
      Thanks, good to know. Most of what I have seen comes from the Instagram feed of Bradley Friesen who seems to have some pretty awesome pictures of where he's able to land his R44. Makes me want to move to BC. https://www.instagram.com/bradleyfriesen/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/bradleyfriesen/?hl=en
- Someone 10y ago
  You don't need a few million, but you better have a few more dollars lying around for maintenance, gas, and insurance. http://www.robinsonheli.com/price_lists_eocs/r22_eoc.pdf http://www.robinsonheli.com/price_lists_eocs/r22_eoc.pdf estimates operating costs at $140 an hour. I expect that to be on the low side, given it is information from the manufacturer, and given that I spotted one white lie: they get at the $140 by assuming 8 gallons per hour, then derive $0.90 per mile from that, but casually mention a speed that uses 9.5 gallons per hour at cruise speed. A tiny difference on that $/mile figure, but it would add about $8 to the 'dollar per hour' number.
  - Gepsens 10y ago
    Yeah, can't really talk about costs unless you factor in running costs...
zer11782oo 10y ago
This is false. You can get helicopters much cheaper.

Sure wish I had a couple million lying around to go buy a helicopter! :P

kevin_thibedeau 10y ago

Robinson R22 is < $300k. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_R22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_R22

lwhalen 10y ago
And at that price, for me, it might as well be a billion dollars :-)
- cpncrunch 10y ago
  Thats new price. You can buy them for under 100k second hand. Have a look on conttoller.com.
  - lwhalen 10y ago
    Half a billion, then. Mang, I'm trying to buy a house right now, $20k is a far-off and scary number to me where I'm at.
  - cpncrunch 10y ago
    That should be controller.com
newman314 10y ago
I must admit that I find the idea of owning a R22 or R44 quite attractive. Too bad the wallet is not cooperative.
- dingaling 10y ago
  Robbos are 'cheap' up-front because they're built for a 12-year / 2,200 flying-hour service life; they're basically disposable helicopters. They can be overhauled and rebuilt at that point, and every subsequent 2,200 hours, but it's expensive. Furthermore here are some service-life-hours comparisons between components on an R22 and an Enstrom F-28C of the same category ( edit: updated from the FAA TCDS ): Main rotor blades: 2,200 / unlimited on-condition Main rotor spindle: 4,400 / 17,700 Tail rotor blade: 2,200 / 3,100 Tail rotor attachment: 2,200 / 6,200 Source: an acquaintance who runs a training school with R22s. He loves flying them but sells them on ASAP when they're anywhere near their service life. Incidentally Mr Robinson originally designed the R22 with a target list-price of $22,000, hence the name.
  - newman314 10y ago
    Thanks, good to know. Most of what I have seen comes from the Instagram feed of Bradley Friesen who seems to have some pretty awesome pictures of where he's able to land his R44. Makes me want to move to BC. https://www.instagram.com/bradleyfriesen/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/bradleyfriesen/?hl=en
Someone 10y ago
You don't need a few million, but you better have a few more dollars lying around for maintenance, gas, and insurance. http://www.robinsonheli.com/price_lists_eocs/r22_eoc.pdf http://www.robinsonheli.com/price_lists_eocs/r22_eoc.pdf estimates operating costs at $140 an hour. I expect that to be on the low side, given it is information from the manufacturer, and given that I spotted one white lie: they get at the $140 by assuming 8 gallons per hour, then derive $0.90 per mile from that, but casually mention a speed that uses 9.5 gallons per hour at cruise speed. A tiny difference on that $/mile figure, but it would add about $8 to the 'dollar per hour' number.
- Gepsens 10y ago
  Yeah, can't really talk about costs unless you factor in running costs...

zer11782oo 10y ago

This is false. You can get helicopters much cheaper.