Our Fleet

Tallahassee Helicopters only uses new Robinson R44 helicopters for our pilot training and our commercial services. The R44 is probably the best helicopter in the world for personal ownership, primary flight training, and light commercial work. That's why the R44 is the most popular helicopter in the world. In fact, Robinson produces more helicopters each year than all other helicopter manufacturers combined.

The R44 is substantially heavier than the R22 and therefore rides through wind gusts and turbulence much more solidly than the R22. A passenger who gets uncomfortable or even nauseated in the R22 would have no problem on most days in the R44. Even though heavier than the R22, the R44 is still a relatively light helicopter and responds immediately to control inputs unlike heavier helicopters who respond more gradually, thus providing additional margin of safety for student pilots as well as enhanced comfort for pilots and passengers in a roomy, comfortable and stable cabin.

The R44 also offers a lot of safety advantages over the R22. The R44 is less squirrelly than the R22 in gusty winds and near obstacles. With the limited payload of the R22, you're much less likely to be bumping up against gross weight and performance limitations than with the R44. Also, the higher inertia in the R44 rotor system, compared to the R22, will give you a few extra precious seconds to react to a simulated or actual engine failure.

In summary, the R44 is a very responsive, fun and easy to fly helicopter with increased safety margins, a comfortable cabin for up to four occupants. This ship is remarkably reliable and maintenance free to operate. The majority of R44 accidents are due to pilot error, so the accident rates in Robinsons would be tough to reduce by making the R44 even more robust. Thus, the R44 had to be the best choice for us to provide quality and safe pilot training and commercial services. And by using only very experienced and safety conscious pilots and instructors, you are in excellent hands.