Robinson Helicopters R44 Raven I vs Robinson Helicopters R44 Raven Ii vs Robinson Helicopters R66
The Robinson R44 Raven I is the baseline four-seat R44, typically flown with one pilot and up to three passengers, and it offers moderate range suited to local missions, short cross-country flights, and training. The R44 Raven II is also a four-seat aircraft with the same basic passenger capacity, but it generally provides better high-altitude and hot-day capability and often achieves a similar or slightly improved practical range depending on loading and operating conditions, making it a more flexible choice when performance margins matter. The Robinson R66 steps up a category as a larger, five-seat turbine helicopter, usually flown with one pilot and up to four passengers, and it generally offers the greatest range of the three along with stronger performance, especially in demanding environments, while also providing more payload options for passengers, baggage, and fuel. In short, both R44 variants fit the light-piston, four-seat category with comparable range, while the R66 is a higher-capability turbine, five-seat aircraft with typically longer range and more passenger-carrying flexibility.
| Spec | ROBINSON R44 Raven I | ROBINSON R44 Raven II | ROBINSON R66 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| DOC / nm | $ 2.30 | $ 2.36 | $ 3.49 |
| Total Seats | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Robinson Helicopters | Robinson Helicopters | Robinson Helicopters |
| Aircraft Name | R44 Raven I | R44 Raven II | R66 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 300 | 300 | 350 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.57 | $ 0.59 | $ 0.70 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 950 | 995 | 1355 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 248 | $ 257 | $ 384 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 108 | 109 | 110 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 412,000 | $ 490,000 | $ 920,000 |
| Cockpit | — | — | 2 |
| Min Crew | — | — | 1 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | — | 3 |
| Cabin | |||
| Total Seats | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Cockpit | — | — | 2 |
| Min Crew | — | — | 1 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | — | 3 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | No | No | No |
| Model | O-540 | IO-540 | RR300 |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | AvGas | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 2200 | 2200 | 2000 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | 12 | — |
| Horsepower | 225 | 245 | 300 |
| Fuel Delivery | Carbureted | Fuel Injected | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 29.5 | 29.5 | 73.6 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 38.3 | 38.3 | 38.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10.8 | 10.8 | 11.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 2.5 | 2.5 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 50 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 18 |