This article is based on an official press release from Robinson Helicopter Company.

Robinson R66 Fleet Clears 2,300 Flight Hours in Military Training Push

Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) has announced a significant operational milestone for its R66 turbine Helicopters fleet, logging over 2,300 flight hours in just over seven months of military training operations. According to the company’s official statement, this achievement underscores the platform’s reliability as it positions itself for the U.S. Army’s upcoming “Flight School Next” modernization program.

The milestone, achieved between May and December 2025, involves a fleet of six aircraft operating across two distinct pilot programs for the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. By demonstrating high operational availability and low maintenance requirements, Robinson aims to prove that its light turbine helicopter, specifically the militarized “TH-66 Sage” variant, can handle the rigorous tempo of initial military flight training.

Operational Context: The “Proof of Concept”

The 2,300 flight hours were accumulated through active contracts designed to test the efficacy of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) aircraft in military syllabi. According to the press release, the flight hours were generated in two primary locations:

• Marianna, Florida: Supporting the U.S. Army’s “Part 141 Flight School Pilot Program,” which trains warrant officer candidates to FAA Private Pilot standards before they enter formal military instruction.
• Fort Worth, Texas: Supporting the U.S. Navy’s “Contract Operated Pilot Training – Rotary” (COPT-R) program.

Robinson emphasizes that the fleet maintained “sustained operational availability” with an “extremely low rate of unscheduled maintenance” throughout this period. This data is critical for the manufacturer, as military customers often scrutinize whether light civilian helicopters can endure the repetitive stress of student training without frequent downtime.

The Aircraft: Inside the TH-66 Sage

The aircraft driving these numbers is the TH-66 “Sage,” a variant of the standard R66 Turbine specifically configured for military instruction. Powered by a Rolls-Royce RR300 turbine engine, the helicopter is designed to offer a cost-effective alternative to heavier, twin-engine trainers currently in use.

According to Robinson’s specifications, the TH-66 features a modern glass cockpit equipped with Garmin G500H TXi displays and GTN750 navigators. This Avionics suite is intended to prepare student pilots for the digital environments found in advanced military combat aircraft. The manufacturer also highlights specific modifications for the training environment, including an “instructor-friendly” cyclic design and a standard 4K cockpit camera for post-flight debriefing.

“American-Made R66 Demonstrates Critical Operational Reliability, Establishing Readiness for Army’s Flight School Next Program.”

, Robinson Helicopter Company Press Release

A key component of Robinson’s pitch is the domestic origin of the aircraft. The company states that over 85% of the R66’s parts are manufactured at its facility in Torrance, California, a factor likely intended to appeal to U.S. military procurement requirements regarding supply chain security.

Strategic Implications: Flight School Next

While the current flight hours were generated under Contracts awarded to “Team CTI” (a partnership involving Crew Training International), the broader goal for Robinson is the U.S. Army’s “Flight School Next” (FSN) initiative. This massive program seeks to overhaul the Army’s Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) training system, currently reliant on the Airbus UH-72 Lakota.

To compete for the future FSN contract, Robinson has aligned itself with M1 Support Services to form “Team M1.” This Partnerships combines Robinson’s manufacturing capabilities with M1’s experience in aviation logistics and maintenance. The 2,300-hour milestone serves as a direct validation of the team’s proposal, offering hard data to support claims of reliability and cost-efficiency.

AirPro News Analysis

The data released by Robinson highlights a shifting philosophy in military pilot training: the move toward “outsourcing” initial skills to lower-cost commercial platforms. Historically, the U.S. Army has utilized the twin-engine UH-72 Lakota for initial training. While capable, the Lakota is significantly more expensive to operate per hour than a single-engine light turbine like the R66 or its competitor, the Bell 505.

By proving that the R66 can sustain high-tempo operations (averaging nearly 400 hours per airframe in seven months), Robinson is directly challenging the necessity of using complex, twin-engine aircraft for ab initio training. If the Army prioritizes cost savings and throughput in its “Flight School Next” decision, the economic argument for a single-engine trainer becomes compelling. However, Robinson faces stiff competition from established defense giants, including Boeing (offering the Leonardo TH-73) and Bell Textron, both of whom have deep legacies in military training.

Ultimately, this milestone moves the R66 from a “paper candidate” to a proven entity in the military training space, forcing competitors to address the economic efficiency of their own offerings.

Sources

Sources: Robinson Helicopter Company (GlobeNewswire)