R44 Average Fuel Burn per Hour

[Robbie Driver]

Good evening,

 Any R44 pilots and/or operators would you mind sharing your fuel burn in the aircraft.  I usually get approx. 12-13 GPH.

 

RD

[HeliFrank]

If I remember correctly ours were somewhere around 40 liters/hour unless you don't tighten the the fuel tank cap.

Then the average fuel consumption goes up to somewhere around 100 liters per hour  

 

Frank

 

(1 US gal = 3,78 Liter), (1 GB gal = 4,54 Liter)

[HH60Pilot]

We're burning 11-12 gph pulling 17-18" flying at altitude around Lake Tahoe with 3-4 people on board.

 

Doug

[zippiesdrainage]

Just found this very old topic and felt it need to be ressurected due to the fact that I think it's an important topic. I have never seen an R44 burn 11-12 gal/hour. Even the Robinson website it says the R44 Raven 2 burns 14GPH and the Raven 1 burns 16. We teach our students 18gph and now I'm wondering where the number 18 came from in the first place.

 

Anyway

 

input, ideas, complaints and rants please

[Goldy]

Just found this very old topic and felt it need to be ressurected due to the fact that I think it's an important topic. I have never seen an R44 burn 11-12 gal/hour. Even the Robinson website it says the R44 Raven 2 burns 14GPH and the Raven 1 burns 16. We teach our students 18gph and now I'm wondering where the number 18 came from in the first place.

 

Anyway

 

input, ideas, complaints and rants please

 

I use 15 as an average. I am usually pulling near max power on take off (less than 2 min), cruising at 21-22 inches (which is about 100-105 knots, depending on load) and I hold a lot of speed until very short final. My fuel planning seems to be on the nose using 15. I would guess cruising might be near 14 gallons and max power probably closer to 18-19. Really a lot depends on what you are using the ship for and obviously how much power you are pulling.

 

Running 4 minute tours uses a lot more power and fuel than a 30 minute tour where I get to cruise for a bit.

 

I think 18 for a Raven or Clipper 2 gives you a safety factor obviously. The older Raven 1's do use a lot more fuel, as the blade is less efficient as is the carb vs fuel injection.

 

BTW- Flying a Clipper 2

Edited July 19, 2012 by Goldy

[Bobsyouruncle]

Just found this very old topic and felt it need to be ressurected due to the fact that I think it's an important topic. I have never seen an R44 burn 11-12 gal/hour. Even the Robinson website it says the R44 Raven 2 burns 14GPH and the Raven 1 burns 16. We teach our students 18gph and now I'm wondering where the number 18 came from in the first place.

 

Anyway

 

input, ideas, complaints and rants please

 

I haven't flown an R-44 but I noticed something the other day in my manual that you don't hear much about. Fuel burn, at least in a turbine engine (and i think in all engines) gets quite a bit more efficient at high altitude. In my aircraft the difference between a fuel burn at 10,000 is 15% less than at sea level. Temperature also affects it (colder, better fuel burn) though it's barely noticeable. Anyway, so somebody who operates in a high altitude environment all the time could see a much better rate.