Rolls-Royce RR300 engine tops 1 million flight hours in R66

The Rolls-Royce RR300 engine has moved past the one-million-flight-hour milestone, providing Robinson R66 helicopter operators nearly a decade of reliable service.

The R66 and the RR300 engine were jointly announced in 2007 by the iconic Frank Robinson and Rolls-Royce, and the helicopter was certified into service in 2010. Since that time, Robinson’s first gas-turbine powered helicopter has proven itself in dependable service around the world, with a growing fleet of nearly 1,000 helicopters delivered.

Paul Matthews, Rolls-Royce, senior vice president of sales, said, “We congratulate Robinson Helicopter for this outstanding record of service – one million flight hours is a significant milestone and reflects the exceptional design and reliability of the R66. Rolls-Royce is proud to have partnered with Frank Robinson, and now, his son, Kurt, on the R66 helicopter for more than a decade.”

Kurt Robinson, president of Robinson Helicopter, said, “We believe this milestone is a testament to the R66’s outstanding performance and confirms its place as a leader in the helicopter industry.”

The Rolls-Royce RR300 was developed as a derivative of the M250 turboshaft engine – itself an icon with proven performance over decades of service. The RR300 is a compact, powerful and fuel efficient engine, which has proven to be extremely reliable in service – literally around the world in circumnavigation flights, and to the North Pole.

R66 operators are supported by the Rolls-Royce RR300 Fully Integrated Rolls-Royce Support Team (FIRST) network, a global, authorized system providing outstanding service. The Rolls-Royce FIRST network provides affordable, reliable support solutions. The FIRST network includes more than 30 approved, licensed service centers and Aviall locations around the world, and its competitive structure means operators can find affordable and reliable service anywhere for Rolls-Royce M250 or RR300 engines. Aviall Inc. (a Boeing company) is a key part of the FIRST network and is the global authorized distributor for Rolls-Royce M250/RR300 engines, parts, modules and tooling.

The RR300 is manufactured in Indianapolis, Indiana, where a $600 million Rolls-Royce investment in modernization and technology programs is nearing completion, including state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing.

Rolls-Royce employs 6,000 people in 27 states across the U.S., literally coast-to-coast, from southern California to Walpole, Massachusetts. In addition, Rolls-Royce business supports more than 52,000 jobs across the U.S., adding nearly $9 billion to the nation’s economy each year.

Rolls-Royce has invested nearly $1 billion in research and development in the U.S. since 2013.