Starlite International Aviation Training Academy has launched the new Robinson R44 Cadet helicopter, the first of its kind in South Africa and boasting the fourth chassis in the world.
Starlite purchased the Cadet in October 2016 and after being assembled by the Starlite Maintenance team in Durban, the aircraft joined the academy’s impressive fleet. Suitable for a wide variety of utilitarian applications, the two seater R44 was developed specifically for the training market.
The Cadet retains the same basic airframe, rotor system and Lycoming O-540-F1B5 engine as the R44 Raven I, however, the rear seats have been removed and the aft compartment reconfigured for cargo.
The maximum gross weight is 2,200 pounds/998 kilograms, 200 pounds/98 kilograms less than the Raven I. The engine power is reduced to 210 HP take off/185 HP continuous, down from 225/205 HP in the Raven I.
The lower weight and reduced power provide increased performance margins at high altitudes. In addition to a newly designed muffler, the Cadet’s flyover noise signature is more than three decibels lower than the current R44 Raven I.
A variety of optional equipment is available, including air conditioning, autopilot and avionic packages optimized for visual flight rules (VFR) or instrument flight rules (IFR) training.
