Robinson Helicopter Company has selected Mid-Continent Instruments as the primary supplier for flight instrument technology. Upgrading to the 4300 Electric Attitude Indicator improves value and reliability for Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters.
“We are proud to be a key partner with our friends at Robinson,” said Matt Fowle, Western Region Manager. “Our association dates back to 1989 and was founded on performance and dependability. The 4300 and 3300 are vastly improved indicators that are perfect for mission critical helicopters like the R22 and R44.”
The 4300 is known in the industry for its pedigree. Its reliability is backed up by a high MTBF of 7,500 hours. The engineering design conquers the high vibration environment of helicopters. To assure performance under extreme conditions, the unit was put through advanced testing (DO-160E, section 20 HIRF). “From a pilot perspective, these indicators excel in the rugged day-to-day activities that helicopter operators experience,” stated Fowle. “We made sure that critical internal parts were designed to withstand these operations, whether it be flight schools or law enforcement duties.”
The popularity of the 4300 Attitude Indicator is definitely growing with more than ten aircraft manufacturers using it as standard equipment. With a 7,500 hour MTBF, the lifespan of this instrument is two to three times greater than that of the older electric attitude indicators available. “With the increased mean time between failures, the cost of ownership is about half of what other attitude indicators cost,” explained Fowle. “Both the 4300 and 3300 can be used as aftermarket replacements for the original legacy gyros shipped from the Robinson factory. Operators will find this helpful when a spare is needed because of the quick availability and lower cost of the Mid-Continent Instruments units.”
Mid-Continent Instruments manufactures aircraft instruments for the general aviation industry. Services at the Wichita, Kansas facility include developing and manufacturing new avionics products. Mid-Continent Instruments West in Van Nuys, California provides new instrument sales and is the top-rated instrument overhaul shop on the west coast. Specialties include gyro, altimeter, HSI and autopilot system overhauls. Mid-Continent instruments are found in new Cessna-built airplanes, Hawker Beechcraft’s line of Bonanzas, Barons, King Airs and 1900 Airliners. Other key customers include GARMIN International, Diamond, Piper, Robinson Helicopter Co., Eclipse, Vulcanair, Eurocopter, and Bell Helicopter.
