Two-seat piston training and personal helicopter · Private helicopters · production 1996–present · See its reach on the 3D globe
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A Robinson R22 Beta II costs approximately $326k (€302k) to $390k (€361k) to buy at 2026 market values, and about $34k (€32k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $430 (€398) per flight hour all-in. It seats 2, cruises at 96 kt (110 mph) and has a published range of 250 nm (463 km). Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The R22 is the aircraft most of the world's civil helicopter pilots trained on, which is exactly why it sells: cheap to buy, cheap by rotorcraft standards to run, and supported everywhere. That reputation hides a demanding machine, a low-inertia teetering rotor that punishes abrupt inputs, with real sensitivity to wind and turbulence and the SFAR 73 training rules that exist because of it. The 12-year or 2,200-hour overhaul clock is the number that governs value: an R22 near overhaul is worth far less than the hours suggest, and a fresh one commands a premium.
The R22 Beta II is a two-place piston helicopter designed for training and light local work. Robinson publishes the model's performance and configuration, while US regulation applies specific experience and training requirements to the R22. Its low mass and responsive controls make pilot currency and type-specific instruction a central part of the ownership decision rather than an after-purchase detail.
Component times, calendar status, engine condition, mandatory service information and damage history determine the remaining economic life. Build reserves from the aircraft's actual status and an authorised-shop quotation, not from a generic hourly allowance. The two-seat cabin also needs a real loading check with occupants, fuel and environmental conditions before it is treated as a workable training or private mission.
Commercial schools running high-volume training where the hours are used quickly.
Private recreational pilots. Slow cruise, low useful load and the ticking 12-year overhaul clock make private ownership hard to justify.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 622 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 223 kg |
| Maximum operating altitude | 14,000 ft |
| Engine | Lycoming O-360 carbureted, 131 hp takeoff / 124 hp continuous |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 2 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 373 lb (169 kg) |
| Published planning range | 250 nm (463 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 167 nm (309 km) |
| Cruise speed | 96 kt (110 mph) |
| Runway need | Vertical |
| Landing gear | Skids |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $16k (€15k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $227 (€210) |
The lowest-cost certified helicopter entry point, but payload, wind tolerance and overhaul economics are restrictive.
Indicative cash costs at 2026 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $25k (€23k) | $632 (€585) | $481k (€445k) |
| 80 h / year | $34k (€32k) | $429 (€398) | $526k (€487k) |
| 120 h / year | $43k (€40k) | $362 (€335) | $571k (€529k) |
| 180 h / year | $57k (€53k) | $317 (€293) | $639k (€592k) |
Every figure above is built from a $16k (€15k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $227 (€210) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $48k (€44k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Robinson R22 Beta II cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2026 market price for a Robinson R22 Beta II is $326k (€302k) to $390k (€361k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Robinson R22 Beta II works out at roughly $34k (€32k) annually, which is about $430 (€398) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $227 (€210).
Published range is 250 nm (463 km). With 2 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 180 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Robinson R22 Beta II requires rotorcraft-helicopter rating. A helicopter category and class rating on your pilot certificate. Fixed-wing time does not transfer, and most owners reach this type through a full course rather than an add-on. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Robinson R22 Beta II is a helicopter and needs no runway, but landing permissions and component-life maintenance dominate its real-world utility.
Direct comparisons against the models buyers most often weigh against this one.