Robinson Helicopter has revealed an extensive upgrade for the R66 that makes an all-glass cockpit and autopilot standard — and adds a range of other features and enhanced styling — as the manufacturer seeks to raise the bar in an increasingly competitive light single-engine field.
The upgrade — known as the NxG (next generation) — was unveiled during the first morning at Verticon, the helicopter industry’s biggest tradeshow.
Speaking to Vertical ahead of the reveal, David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter, said there were several drivers in updating the type, which entered the market in 2010.
Fistly, the move to an all-glass cockpit not only modernizes the flying experience, but allows the manufacturer to shrink the instrument panel.
“For the longest time, we had a couple of different avionics providers for the 66 as secondary instruments or backup instruments, [but] primary were always round gauges,” he said. “The cockpit is quite large for us in a VFR [visual flight rules] aircraft, so we wanted to shrink that down.”
He also wanted to bring a new approach to the R66’s styling and level of finish.
“We said, ‘What can we do that’s really exciting and different here that’s going to change people’s perspective on what Robinson can do?’ ”
The idea was hatched to offer the upgrade in three trim lines, which would simplify production compared to the “choose your own adventure” range of options and finishes previously available, said Smith.
“Just with a touch of additional design activity, we were able to get these architectures so much more appealing, [through] the lighting, the physical things you touch, all switches, knobs and buttons, [or] the placement of thoughtful additions of leather in spots that we didn’t have leather before.”
These additions — even in the highest-end “Riviera” version — add just “around a dozen” pounds of weight, said Smith.
“I think the special edition Riviera in particular, folks are going to be really surprised by that,” he said. “When people get in and feel it and touch it, I think that’s going to be the important feedback we need.”
All three NxG versions are named after neighborhoods near Robinson’s home in Torrance, California.
The base level is the Southwood, which is equipped with the Garmin G500H 700P/700P TXi avionics as standard, along with a two-axis autopilot, impact-resistant windshield, and air conditioning.
The mid-level Palo Verde also has the Garmin G500H 700P/700P TXi, but this can be upgraded to a 1060/700P TXi flight display. It also has a Garmin GTN 750Xi GPS, synthetic vision, navigation and communications, GDL 60 Datalink and a two-axis Garmin autopilot. Sun visors and ambient overhead lighting are standard, along with a high-end leather interior and new exterior paint schemes.
The limited-edition Riviera will only available for order over the next 12 months. It features advanced Garmin avionics and a three-axis autopilot, as well as an exclusive interior. This includes a light wood flooring — a first for a Robinson aircraft.
Making items such as air conditioning, glass cockpits and bird-strike resistant windows standard was common sense given their extremely high take rate as options, said Smith.
“Autopilots are incredibly popular, too, and we see the safety advantage, so we wanted to make those standard as well.”
Smith said the average R66 currently leaves the factory for around $1.4 to $1.45 million, thanks to the options typically added to the aircraft. The Southwood will be “in the $1.35 [million] range.”
“We think that’s pretty good value for what you get, and is well below the other market players in that 66 category.”
The company is targeting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification of the NxG by the end of this year. Validation from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and others will follow.
“We’re hoping that the work we’re doing to get closer to EASA will tighten up that timeline, but you just never know — it’s always resource dependent more than anything else,” said Smith.
Robinson will no longer be taking any orders for the standard R66, and will be offering those with pre-existing orders for the type the opportunity to upgrade to the NxG, where possible.
