Whats better to train in a r22 or a 300c helicopter?

Question

I have no experiance in any helicopter and i will be starting from the beging...and i have two school to choose from, one flys the r22 and the other flys the 300c...but not sure which one will be better so when i am done with school i can get a job...the school with the 300c is alot closer and they are both the same price...thank you.

Answer 1

all great points made by apollo and i agree that this is a difficult decision to make

i began training and obtained my private certificate in a 300c, but have since flown in both r22's and r44's. i was in a lucky position in that my school offers both helos to train in

here are the main practical differences i encountered while flying them

the r22 has a device that automatically controls the throttle when. this means that when you move the collective either up or down, the helicopter keeps the rpm's where they should be.

in the 300c you are required to continuously monitor the rpms and make throttle adjustments. while it may be convenient for the helicopter to do this for you, you will come out as a much better pilot if you learn to do it for yourself. thus i feel that that in this regard the 300c will build a more proficient pilot

another noticeable difference between the two is the height of the rotor blades above the pilot. the r22 and more so the r44, have a much taller mast where the rotor blades on the 300c are closer to the cabin and pilot. when you are learning to hover, pick up and set down, it is much easier to control a 300c over an r22 or r44. due to a pendular motion the longer distance requires smaller more refined cyclic inputs. to put this plainly, it is easier to learn on the 300c but the r22 and r44 will make you a better pilot.

so there are two differing points which i guess have confused you further

i loved training on the 300c and am not to comfortable in the r22. however when i was instrument training the 300c does not even come close to comparing to the benefits of the r44

so here is what i would do if i were you. go to the school with the 300c's and get you private cert. then pack up your headset, log book and flying shoes and head to the robbinson school and get you instrument training in a r44. see which you like better and go from there. you can train at both schools at the same time or find a school that has both types and train there.

whichever way you go im sure you'll love it. best of luck

Answer 2

First, you need to understand that this is an ongoing debate and every helicopter pilot has a strong opinion on it. You are going to have to evaluate the aircraft yourself, and use your own good judgment to decide. Ignore any argument that lacks substance, like people bashing one or the other, or people trying to convince you that their school is better because they use one or the other. Try to get the opinions of many different pilots.

I am very much a supporter of the Schweizer 300's. Let me go over the main points between the two.

Cost

The primary reason that flight schools choose the R22 is a lower operating cost. However, if you actually compare prices in your area, as you have done, the price difference for you is usually negligible.

Getting a Job

R22 pilots will make you think that Schweizer schools are some kind of rarity and it's just not true. There are more Robinson schools than Schweizer schools, but there are still many Schweizer schools out there. You can see a list of them here:

http://www.sacusa.com/1directory/states....

Also, in order to qualify for a job you need to complete Robinson factory school, have at least 50 hours make and model to teach in it, and receive an endorsement specific to that aircraft. All of these add to your cost, and are not required for the 300. Furthermore, flight school insurance minimums are often higher at R22 schools. They sometimes reach as high as 300 hours experience to get your first instructing job. Obtaining this experience may also add to your expense.

I trained in 300's and never had any difficulty getting jobs. I also know R22 pilots that had immense difficulty. Getting a job will not necessarily be easier or harder if you train in one or the other. It is just one factor among many. Networking and being in the right place at the right time are more significant factors to getting jobs in my opinion.

Cyclic

The cyclic stick is one of the main helicopter controls. In almost every other helicopter in the world, the cyclic comes up from the floor between your knees. In the R22, they designed the cyclic so it comes up from the center of the cabin, then a seesaw mechanism brings the cyclic down to your lap. I suppose the idea was to give passengers an easier time getting in and out. However, this places your instructor in an awkward position to recover for your mistakes. The 300 will also fly more like the helicopters you will encounter during the rest of your career.

Safety

Safety is the most important aspect when considering aircraft type. The 300 has better margins for error, higher rotor inertia, and a heftier structure. Just take a look at each of the aircraft and ask yourself which one you would feel safer in. The R22 is a squirrelly machine and you are always closer to a critical situation when flying it. Many accidents are caused by pilots exceeding the limitations of their aircraft. This is much easier to do in a Robinson, especially for low time students and their low time instructors. And, if you do find yourself in a critical situation, whether due to mechanical or pilot failure, the 300 will always give you the best chance of surviving that situation.

My Bottom Line

The arguments for flying a R22 are always based on cost (small difference) and employability (small difference, and only for first instructing jobs), whereas the arguments for the Schweizer 300 are always based on safety. Which one would you choose?

(Added)

Here is an interesting poll and discussion thread on a helicopter pilot forum:

http://verticalreference.com/helicopterf...