Robinson unveils R88, company's largest helicopter

Robinson Helicopter has introduced the R88, a 10-seat single-engine turbine helicopter, marking a significant expansion beyond its traditional light helicopter models. The clean-sheet design will require a new type certificate, with first flight expected as early as this year and certification projected later this decade. The company has begun taking orders for the $3.3 million aircraft.

Specifications and capabilities

The R88 features a 275-cubic-foot cabin designed to accommodate up to eight passengers or 1,800 pounds of payload with full fuel. It is intended for aerial firefighting, air medical transport, utility work, and passenger transport, with a reconfigurable cabin for various missions.

The aircraft will be powered by a Safran Helicopter Engines Arriel 2W engine, producing 1,000 shaft horsepower. The R88 expands upon the company’s existing lineup, which currently includes the five-seat R66 powered by a 300-shp Rolls-Royce turboshaft engine.

David Smith, Robinson Helicopter’s president and CEO, described the R88 as a single-engine alternative offering cabin capacity and performance comparable to some twin-engine helicopters.

Design and structural changes

The R88 maintains Robinson’s two-blade teetering main rotor system, similar to previous models, but with modifications to enhance performance and reduce noise. It will also include impact-resistant windshields certified to Part 29 transport helicopter standards as a standard feature.

Unlike previous Robinson models, the R88 will not use the company's signature teeter bar single-post cyclic control system. Instead, it will adopt traditional dual cyclic controls due to the aircraft’s wider cabin geometry. The structure will be based on a welded steel frame with aluminum skin, incorporating carbon-fiber composites where appropriate. The aircraft will also feature dual hydraulic controls for pitch and roll.

Mission and operational features

The R88 will have an external cargo hook rated for human external cargo (HEC) operations, capable of lifting up to 3,000 pounds. It will also include a fold-down rear entry door for easier medevac stretcher loading, along with sliding rear doors. The helicopter’s range is estimated to exceed 350 nautical miles, with a flight endurance of more than 3.5 hours.

Additional options for the aircraft include a utility basket, wire-strike protection kit, pop-out floats, and high skids for firefighting water tank compatibility.

The R88 will feature a fully integrated Garmin avionics suite with touchscreen G500H TXi displays, a crew alerting system, and GTN navigation and communication units. A four-axis Garmin autopilot will be standard, providing level mode, hover assist, limit cueing, and speed protection. The aircraft will also include a health usage monitoring system and data recording with a built-in datalink.

The Safran Arriel 2W engine will require certification but is based on an existing model. It will be derated to operate below its maximum power rating. Each R88 will include a Safran service program covering unscheduled removals for five years or 2,000 flight hours.

Production and certification timeline

The first flight test article of the R88 is currently under construction. Robinson Helicopter aims to complete first flight testing within the next year, but the timeline remains dependent on integration with Safran’s engine and the Garmin avionics suite.

Company executives estimate that certification will take between 2.5 and 4 years, based on past certification timelines for other Robinson models. The company has already opened the order book, with potential buyers directed to R66 dealers for deposits.

Robinson Helicopter, headquartered in Torrance, California, expects the R88 to attract new customers while also offering an upgrade path for existing Robinson operators.