Robinson Helicopter’s new empennage design for the R22 helicopter includes a symmetric horizontal stabilizer and tail cone, standard on all newly manufactured Robinson helicopters. (Photo: Business Wire)
Robinson Helicopter secured the approval for its newly designed empennage for the R22 helicopter.
TORRANCE, Calif.—Robinson Helicopter Company, a manufacturer of civilian rotorcraft, recently secured FAA approval for its new empennage design for the R22 helicopter. With the certification, Robinson’s entire fleet of helicopters is now FAA-certified, the company said in a release.
The new empennage design includes a symmetric horizontal stabilizer and tail cone, now standard on all newly manufactured Robinson helicopters. Development and testing of the design spanned several years, ultimately yielding “enhanced handling characteristics during high-speed flight,” according to the release.
“This certification underscores Robinson Helicopter Company’s dedication to engineering enhancements that make our aircraft more accessible and easier to fly,” said David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company, in a statement. “By doing so, we unlock even more opportunities for the next generation to experience the joy of flight and build long careers in aviation.”
Robinson said it will offer a retrofit kit for owners of R22 helicopters. The forthcoming retrofit kit will enable installation of the new symmetrical stabilizer on the existing tail cones in the field without requiring a complete tail cone replacement. It will be available at a discounted rate through the end of December 2024 at authorized Robinson dealers and service centers, or by calling Robinson Helicopter customer service, the company said.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of Robinson’s iconic two-seat R22 helicopter. In March 1979, Robinson received its initial FAA certification for the R22, a light helicopter that has been enshrined in the Smithsonian Museum since September 2004, according to Robinson.
Robinson Helicopters have been flown in challenging missions ranging from flight training to agricultural work, wildlife management, and surveying. More than 80 R22s over 40 years old are still in service, the company said.
Robinson Helicopter is a “vertically integrated company that performs all aspects of helicopter production—from designing to manufacturing, assembly, inspecting, and flight testing—in its 617,000-square-foot facility” in Torrance, the company’s website stated.
“For five decades, Robinson has been at the forefront of the helicopter industry by delivering safety-enhancing technologies, including OEM-designed crash-resistant fuel-cell tanks, 4K cockpit video cameras, autopilot systems, and NVG-compatible cockpits,” the company said in the release.