HAI HeliExpo No News is Good News

Robinson R44

At the age of 88, Frank Robinson no longer attends HeliExpo but his product will go on for ever, or if not for ever for a lot longer than him. His son Kurt did the ever popular press briefing and, like all the other companies, Robinson had done better than ever last year, the economy and sequestration nowhere to be felt.
Robinson sold 517 helicopters last year, 191 were R66s and they now produce 5 or 6 R66s a week and the same number of R44s. And this is before they get Russian, Canadian or EASA certification. Think what it will be like when they do. That should be soon, we were glad to hear, as the FAA have accepted ELAS on the hydraulics so the exemption has been lifted and other governments will now be prepared to look at the product. More will clearly be coming on this in the next few months.

Mr Gou

Enstrom Helicopters have been bought by Chung Ching China, and the company's Mr Gou signed the agreement to purchase 10 more 480s (they already have 6) at the show. After this the incredibly named Chung Ching China company will buy another 15 helicopters, effectively filling up the production line for the foreseeable future. Training helicopters are clearly dearly needed in China.

The other interesting thing of the day was Scott's Bell 47. While Scott's PR writer suffered a little from hyperbole insisting that the show was all talking about their collaboration with Rolls Royce to produce the new Bell 47GT6, it is certainly a lovely idea, and well supported. This, like other things at the show, will be ongoing for many years.