Robinson R44 vs Robinson R22 vs Robinson R66
The Robinson R22, R44 and R66 form a natural ladder. The two-seat R22 is the classic piston trainer and the most affordable way into helicopter ownership. The four-seat R44 is the best-selling civil helicopter of its class — the versatile piston workhorse with by far the widest used-market choice. The R66 is Robinson's five-seat turbine flagship, trading piston economy for the smoothness, hot-and-high performance and useful load of a turbine engine. Choosing between them comes down to how many seats you need, piston versus turbine, and your budget for both purchase and per-hour running cost.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 446
- Median asking
- $337,560
- Range
- $103,500–$722,186
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 94
- Source marketplaces
- 17
- Model years available
- 1994–2026
- For sale now
- 147
- Median asking
- $107,000
- Range
- $39,000–$377,766
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 15
- Source marketplaces
- 11
- Model years available
- 1984–2026
- For sale now
- 80
- Median asking
- $880,000
- Range
- $580,650–$1,565,200
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 13
- Source marketplaces
- 12
- Model years available
- 2011–2028
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Safety Record
Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.
| NTSB (1982–now) | Robinson R44 | Robinson R22 | Robinson R66 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All events | 366 | 520 | 40 |
| Serious | 33 | 47 | 4 |
| Fatal | 165 | 112 | 23 |
| Fatalities | 345 | 157 | 44 |
| % Fatal | 45% | 22% | 58% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Robinson R44 | Robinson R22 | Robinson R66 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
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| Price Range | $103,500 – $722,186 | $39,000 – $377,766 | $580,650 – $1,565,200 |
| Category | Piston Helicopters | Piston Helicopters | Single Turbine Helicopter |
| Model Specifications | |||
| Seats | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Horsepower | 260 HP | 124 HP | 270 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 110 kts (204 km/h) | 96 kts (178 km/h) | 110 kts (204 km/h) |
| Range | 300 nm (556 km) | 209 nm (387 km) | 350 nm (648 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg) | 1,370 lbs (621 kg) | 2,700 lbs (1,225 kg) |
| Useful Load | 882 lbs (400 kg) | 454 lbs (206 kg) | 1,100 lbs (499 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 48.0 gal (182 L) | 17.0 gal (64 L) | 74.0 gal (280 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 16.0 GPH (61 L/h) | 10.0 GPH (38 L/h) | 23.0 GPH (87 L/h) |
| TBO | 2,200 hrs | 2,200 hrs | 2,200 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $150,000 | $60,000 | $200,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $25,000 | $15,000 | $35,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $200 | $140 | $300 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston | 1 x Turbine |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateRobinson R44
Robinson R22
Robinson R66
Which Should You Buy?
Bottom line: Choose the R22 for training or budget solo flying — it is the cheapest to buy and to operate. Step up to the R44 if you want four seats, proven versatility and the largest selection of used aircraft on the market. Move to the R66 only if you genuinely need five seats, turbine reliability and the extra speed, range and high-altitude performance — and can absorb the higher acquisition price and turbine operating costs that come with it.
Pick the R44 if…
- Most listings for sale — 426
Pick the R22 if…
- Lowest entry price — from $39,000
- Lowest operating cost — about $140/hr
Pick the R66 if…
- Most seats — 5
- Longest range — 350 nm
- Newest design — built from 2010
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.