First, there is the R44 Raven I, which "offers turbine performance at an affordable piston price," meaning that it boasts high reliability, fuel economy, endurance, and comfortable hydraulic controls. This model is also available with fixed-utility floats as a Clipper I.
However, if you really want to set the standard in your neighborhood, go for the high-performance R44 Raven II. It is designed for larger payloads, higher altitudes, and faster speeds with all the luxuries of the Raven I. The latest in the R44 line, this aircraft is also available as a Clipper II, police helicopter, or "newscopter."
- It is comparatively lightweight (2,400 lbs. max gross for the Raven I; 2,500 for the Raven II). Without a lot of inertia, if you put in a control input, the helicopter responds immediately and dramatically, like a sports sedan.
- On the flipside, it is also heavy enough to maneuver solidly through wind gusts and turbulence. If you suffer from air sickness, you should have few problems in the R44.
- The piston-powered engine provides instant power changes without the spool-up time of a turbine and burns about half as much fuel as a small turbine-powered engine.
- The R44's maintenance and overhaul requirements are simple. Aside from oil changes, nothing in the R44 requires service between 100-hour inspections, and most components in the R44 are only overhauled at the 2,200-hour interval.
- The helicopter emits less noise due to its redesigned main- and tail-rotor blades. Noise-attenuating blade-tip caps are fitted onto both sets of rotors.
| Gross Weight | 2,500 lbs. |
| Empty Weight Equipped | 1,506 lbs. |
| Standard Fuel (30.6 gal.) | 184 lbs. |
| Auxiliary Fuel (18.3 gal.) | 110 lbs. |
| Passengers and Baggage with Standard Fuel | 810 lbs. |
| Passengers and Baggage with Auxiliary Fuel | 700 lbs. |
| Cruise Speed | up to 135 MPH (117 KTS) |
| Maximum Range (no reserve) | approximately 400 miles |
| Hover Ceiling IGE at 2,500 lbs. | 8,950 ft. |
| Hover Ceiling OGE at 2,300 lbs. | 7,500 ft. |
| Hover Ceiling OGE at 2,500 lbs. | 4,500 ft. |
| Rate-of-Climb at 2,500 lbs. and 6,000 ft. | faster than 1,000 FPM |
| Maximum Operating Altitude | 14,000 ft. |
If you are going to spend this much money, let your personality shine through. Although the R44 comes with a standard white paint base and non-metallic trim, you can customize the look and choose from as many colors as there are in a crayon box.
