Robinson Reveals R66 for Army Helicopter Training

Robinson Helicopter has unveiled a military training variant of the R-66 single-engine turbine helicopter that it intends to offer for the U.S. Army’s Initial Entry Rotary-Wing program. The California-based manufacturer formally introduced the R66 army trainer at the Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 14.

Last December, the U.S. Army published a request for information (RFI) on “solutions and methodologies that inform the Army’s analysis and development of options to transform Army Initial Entry Rotary-Wing flight training.” The RFI notes that the Army intends to replace the Airbus Helicopters UH-72 Lakota (EC145) twin-engine rotorcraft that have been the Army’s primary trainers since 2016.

Robinson submitted a response to that RFI and contributed to responses from other industry players, company CEO David Smith told AIN. He said the Army is expected to release a draft request for proposals (RFP) in the third quarter, with a final RFP to come by the end of the year.

According to Robinson, the R66 has the lowest acquisition and operating costs and the most advanced safety features in its class. The five-seat helicopter comes equipped with Garmin’s G500H TXi touchscreen flight display, GTN750 navigator, and a standard 4K cockpit camera. More than 85% of R66 components are produced at Robinson’s manufacturing facility in Torrance, California.