Robinson’s R88: 10-Seat Helicopter with 1,800-Pound Payload and 350-NM Range

Robinson Helicopter Company has launched the R88, its first all-new helicopter in nearly 15 years. This 10-seat single-engine rotorcraft pushes Robinson into new territory beyond its traditional light helicopter market.

Breaking New Ground

The R88 represents a calculated step into larger helicopter territory for Robinson, known for its R22, R44, and R66 models. Company president and CEO David Smith calls it “a bold expansion of our product portfolio, designed to meet the diverse and evolving operating needs we see all over the globe.”

Priced starting at $3.3 million, the R88 targets operators seeking the capabilities of larger helicopters without twin-engine costs. The aircraft evolved from initial customer feedback, growing larger during development.

“Over these last two years, we’ve done huge amounts of customer engagement,” Smith explains. “The team started to lay it out as a smaller aircraft at one point, but as we gained knowledge about both the available performance of this new Arriel variant and understood better our own architecture, it gave us the flexibility to say, ‘no, we can do more.'”

Technical Specifications

The R88 offers substantial improvements in power and capacity:

• Engine: 1,000-shp Safran Arriel 2W turboshaft
• Capacity: 8 passengers plus 2 crew
• Cabin: 275 cubic feet of volume with flat floor
• Payload: Up to 1,800 pounds with full fuel
• Range: Over 350 nautical miles
• Endurance: Exceeding 3.5 hours

Smith hints at a maximum takeoff weight “in the 5,500-6,500-lb. range,” placing it “well above the seven-seat category of aircraft but still well below the twins.”

Design Features

The R88 maintains Robinson’s DNA while introducing new elements:

• Dual cyclic controls (departing from Robinson’s traditional “T-bar” design)
• Garmin avionics with G500H TXi displays and touchscreen GTN navigators
• Standard 4-axis autopilot
• Dual hydraulics for pitch and roll flight controls
• Truck-bed style rear door for cargo and stretcher loading
• Optional high skids for increased ground clearance
• Available 3,000-pound HEC-rated cargo hook

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The aircraft can be configured for multiple missions including firefighting, air medical transport, utility work, and passenger service.

Market Positioning

Smith positions the R88 as the “pickup truck” the utility sector has sought. “There’s going to be a tremendous amount of opportunity,” he says, highlighting the type’s suitability for firefighting work due to “low acquisition and operational cost, and ease of maintenance.”

The R88 also targets “mixed civil tourism/private” operators – executives and private pilots wanting more space or range than an R66 provides.

Smith directly addresses the single vs. twin-engine debate: “The data supports that singles are safer and have less severe consequences from a powerplant outage than a twin.” He adds that Robinson’s R66 “hit two million flight hours with no accidents, no engine failure, no loss of power incidents, no in-flight shutdowns.”

Novel Engine Partnership

The R88 marks Robinson’s first partnership with Safran. Each aircraft will come with Safran’s “Serenity” package, covering unscheduled maintenance for five years or 2,000 flying hours, health monitoring, and digital services.

“We believe everybody should have top-notch service, guaranteed turnaround times and coverage for unexpected events,” Smith says. “Every customer of an R88 will have that connection and the guarantees around engine performance and turnaround.”

Production Plans

Robinson will build the R88 at its Torrance, California facility alongside its existing models. Smith believes the facility can produce 100-200 R88s annually while accommodating “significant growth” for the R66 and R44.

“We are currently doing all the architectural planning to move things through the facility,” Smith explains. “We’ll need more staff, and we’re going to use both shifts.” Currently, Robinson has about 60 people on second shift compared to 1,100 on first shift.

Timeline

The company targets first flight by late 2025 or early 2026, with certification expected 2.5-3 years later (2028-2029). The orderbook opened on March 11, 2025, at the Verticon convention (formerly Heli-Expo).