The Robinson Appreciation Thread
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2022 12:03 am
Great Robbie channel
A Convivial Aviation Discussion Forum for Aviators, Aviatrices and for those who think Flying Machines are Magic.
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https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/ele ... -airfieldsTier 1 Engineering announced that it has successfully completed an airport-to-airport flight with its all-electric helicopter design. The aircraft, a modified Robinson R44, flew between California’s Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (TRM) and Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) on Saturday. The company is calling the trip “the first helicopter flight between airfields solely by electric power.”
“Progress in the development of all-electric propulsion is similar to other periods of significant advance in aviation,” said Tier 1 Engineering President Glen Dromgoole. “The first aircraft flew short distances, and many people were afraid to ride in the new flying machines. At the start of the Jet Age, there was widespread skepticism about the commercial viability of the turbine engine. Today’s historic flight demonstrates the potential of all-electric rotorcraft and we are thrilled by this achievement.”
Tier 1 Engineering reported that the flight was conducted in collaboration with medical research and development company Lung Biotechnology. The aircraft that flew on Saturday is Tier 1’s third-generation “e-R44,” which the company says was designed to “deliver manufactured organs for transplant” by Lung Biotechnology parent company United Therapeutics. According to Tier 1, the model uses quick-swap battery technology that allows battery packs to be changed in 15 minutes.
TheGreenAnger wrote: ↑Tue Nov 01, 2022 9:31 amHardly groundbreaking---it is only 21 nm.The aircraft, a modified Robinson R44, flew between California’s Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (TRM) and Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) on Saturday. The company is calling the trip “the first helicopter flight between airfields solely by electric power.”
From small acorns great Robinsons are born (or something like that)!G~Man wrote: ↑Tue Nov 01, 2022 4:24 pmTheGreenAnger wrote: ↑Tue Nov 01, 2022 9:31 amHardly groundbreaking---it is only 21 nm.The aircraft, a modified Robinson R44, flew between California’s Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (TRM) and Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) on Saturday. The company is calling the trip “the first helicopter flight between airfields solely by electric power.”
You couldn,t pay me enough money.
RIP Frank.FD2 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 18, 2022 5:03 amFrank Robinson
https://helihub.com/2022/11/13/frank-ro ... 1930-2022/
+1FD2 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 11, 2023 5:43 am
What parameters would be monitored by a flight data recorder? Nr, Engine RPM., Airspeed, Torque, EOT, TOP? Difficult and very expensive to fit - would increase the price too much. Realistically the best thing would be to install a camera above the pilot which monitors the instrument panel and the speed of the pilot's actions/reactions to events.
The CAA concluded that the United States-based Robinson Helicopter Company already provided clear advice on the conditions in which the helicopters should be flown, including turbulence and high winds.
Restricting the velocity that should not be exceeded while flying Robinson Helicopters in mountainous areas was inconsistent with the manufacturer’s operating procedures and could have unintended consequences in cases such as engine failure.
“The CAA has not made these decisions lightly and made submissions to the coroner accordingly.
It is quite simple. I must admit that I am beginning to wonder if there's an element of hysteria in NZ in some quarters ref. Robinson aircraft. Good to see the NZ CAA good sense in this case.Flight when surface winds exceed 25 knots, including gusts, is prohibited. 2) Flight when surface wind gust spreads exceed 15 knots is prohibited. 3) Continued flight in moderate, severe, or extreme turbulence is prohibited.
Took a couple of months off from the helicopter due to "cost of living considerations and the normal winter hiatus" but am resuming on Tuesday.tango15 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 11, 2023 9:32 amI was working at Sywell on Wednesday on matters completely unrelated to aviation, but I did notice several of the beasts committing aviation during what was a CAVOK day.
Not much other activity though, and I hear that the Blades aerobatic team has been disbanded.
https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/ ... 50.articleThe UK’s 2Excel Aviation has called time on its aerobatic display team The Blades, citing factors such as global economic pressures and the reduced number of domestic air shows for creating “an unsustainable business model”.
“With heavy hearts, 2Excel Aviation is announcing that 2022 was the final full season for The Blades,” the company said on 23 January, adding: “the decision has not been taken lightly”.
“In the best interests of all our employee-owners, we needed to take action and redeploy our resources elsewhere within our fast-growing company,” it says.
“The challenges to global economies, the worsening cost-of-living crisis and the protracted hit to disposable incomes this is causing have exacerbated the challenges facing The Blades,” 2Excel says. “This comes amid the continued degradation of the air show circuit, with more and more events being lost, meaning fewer opportunities to display and showcase our sponsors to the public.”
“During the 17 flying seasons The Blades delivered, millions of people saw the team display and thousands have ridden onboard our aircraft,” says 2Excel co-founder and director Andy Offer: one of the team’s original pilots. “The concept emerged from the many requests I had during my time in the [Royal Air Force’s] Red Arrows to take members of the public flying,” he notes.
The company says “consultations are ongoing” with The Blades’ pilots and support staff, noting that they have “desirable skillsets we hope to retain and redeploy elsewhere within the business as we seek to meet increasing demand for 2Excel’s innovative aerospace services”.
Now describing itself as a “mini-prime” which provides services including flight-testing for partners such as Leonardo UK, 2Excel began its operations by founding The Blades.
“They debuted in 2006 and have been the one constant during the company’s expansion from just four aeroplanes and five people to the 30 aircraft and almost 500 employees the group comprises today,” 2Excel says.
The team displayed using Extra 300 two-seat aerobatic aircraft, operated from Sywell aerodrome in Hertfordshire.
Lovely airfield, Sywell. Used to hangar the boss's Bo105 there in the 70s when maintenance was required. Pity they've moved it from Northamptonshire to Hertfordshire.The team displayed using Extra 300 two-seat aerobatic aircraft, operated from Sywell aerodrome in Hertfordshire.