Why is the R-22 called the R-22?

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Why is the Robinson helicopter called the R-22.

[Guest 13snoopy]

Frank Robinson had to have a name for the aircraft for the FAA mandated flight tests so he just thought it up on the spot. R for Robinson. 22 for no particular reason other than they had already torn up their first ship (#1) so they were using their 2nd ship (#2), hence the 22.

[delorean]

R = Robinson (Frank Robinson the designer/founder/etc.)

 

22 = I heard it was for $22,000; the original target selling price in the late 70s.  Although I believe Tim Tucker said he ended up paying $43,000 for s/n 0003.

 

Anyone hear any different??

 

BONUS QUESTION: What does WD-40 stand for?

[Firepilot]

W= Water

D= Displacement

 

40= The sequential number of the recipe they had to try to get it      

     to work

 

As near as I can remember

[delorean]

Correct!  I think it was "Dispersal" rather than "Displacement" though.  Developed for the space program.

[Niteshade]

R=Robinson

22=All you'd need to shoot one down.

[mrchuckf]

"R=Robinson

22=All you'd need to shoot one down."

:laugh:  :laugh:  ::cheers::  ::rotorhead::

Good one Night shade

[scottsl4]

R=Robinson

22=All you'd need to shoot one down.

Nice !!

[Rob2k]

I always figured it was because the R22 seats 2 people, just like the R44 seats 4 people, but I'm probably wrong.

[nbit]

That naming convention makes sense to me...  A .44 could probably bring the R-44 down.  I heard the new one, they were calling it the "R-66" at RHC factory safety course, is a five seater...  So the caliber idea makes more sense to me than the seating theory...  There is a .66 caliber which is the same bore as a 16 gauge shotgun.  My guess is a 16-gauge with a slug would bring down the "R-66", so it works for me... ::nyah::  ::potty::

[MortenT]

The first post is correct, Frank himself said that on the safety course I attended in August.

 

He brought it up just because he had heard so many different stories as to why it is called an R22.

 

It is because Frank never thought of an actual name to the helicopter, and when the FAA asked him, "well, what are you going to call it?" on inspections, he had to come up with a name to put on the papers.

[Guest 13snoopy]

The first post is correct, Frank himself said that on the safety course I attended in August.

 

He brought it up just because he had heard so many different stories as to why it is called an R22.

 

It is because Frank never thought of an actual name to the helicopter, and when the FAA asked him, "well, what are you going to call it?" on inspections, he had to come up with a name to put on the papers.

Thanks for giving me props, Morten.

I heard Robinson tell that a long time ago. I guess everyone else thought I was guessing.

I shoulda been on Jeopardy!