R22The Robinson R22 Beta is a piston helicopter in production since 1979. Price: a new Robinson R22 Beta starts at US$ 375,000; used, the market median is around US$ 250,000. Median from Jet Tracker's price research as of 06/2026. It has a range of 240 nm, a cruise speed of 96 kt (178 km/h), 2 seats (pilot included). In Brazil there are 60 active units in the RAB-ANAC, excluding cancelled registrations. There are 67 aircraft from this family for sale today, across 70 listings on the portals Jet Tracker tracks (global market, not Brazil only).
Source: RAB-ANAC (data as of 11/12/2026) and Jet Tracker catalog (spec sheet reviewed on 11/9/2026).
Index ≈ ×1.70 to ×2.50 on the aircraft value, already with ferry, ANAC nationalization, IPI and ICMS.
Market estimate: value + ferry + ANAC nationalization + taxes, no legal review. II, PIS and COFINS are 0% for aircraft (NCM 88.02); IPI is 6.5% (3.25% for air taxi) until Dec 31, 2026; ~4% ICMS only through a qualified importer (Agreement 75/91).
Operate = direct cost/hour (fuel + maintenance + engine); excludes fixed costs (hangar, crew, insurance). World: hourly rate published by charter operators. Brazil: charter is quoted per leg, so the hourly figure is an estimate from route quotes.
Median and price range for pre-owned aircraft, compiled by Jet Tracker from asking prices in listings and the price guides in the sources below, checked on 6/4/2026. 5 of 8 model years have an observed listing. The rest are estimates from the market curve between model years and are flagged in the chart.
PTAX · R$ 5.6075 / US$ · 11/12/2026
Market estimates for guidance only, not a firm quote. Confirm the value with a broker/appraiser before any transaction.
The Robinson R22 Beta is a two-seat light piston-engine helicopter manufactured by Robinson Helicopter since 1979 and still in production. With a maximum takeoff weight of 622 kg, a range of 240 nm, a cruise speed of 96 kt and a service ceiling of 14,000 ft, it occupies the entry level of rotary-wing aviation and is widely used in helicopter pilot training. The reference price of a new unit is USD 320,000. In Brazil, the purchase decision usually revolves around the cost per hour and the availability of maintenance, not payload or endurance.
Typical factory configuration (curated data). The drawing below is schematic and at approximate scale; the actual layout varies by interior and year.
Frank Robinson worked at Hughes, Bell and Kaman before founding Robinson Helicopter Company in 1973 to create an affordable two-seat piston helicopter. First flight on August 28, 1975 and FAA certification in March 1979. The garage became a factory in Torrance, California, now with more than 1,000 employees, a family-company model until the partial sale in 2010 after Frank's retirement.
The R22 line evolved through generations: original R22 (1979), R22 HP (1981, Lycoming O-320 132 hp engine), R22 Alpha (1983), R22 Beta (1985, O-320 124 hp derated engine), R22 Beta II (1996, in production today). The Beta II added a Robinson-system heated carburetor, integrated ground-handling wheels and final balancing adjustments. It has remained in production without structural changes since 1996.
The Robinson R22 Beta is a 2-seat (pilot included) single-engine piston helicopter with a 240 nm range and a 96 kt cruise speed, in production. The up-to-date RAB-ANAC registration count is in the Brazil Fleet section of this page, and the breakdown by status (operational, registration-mark reservation, suspended) is in the model's Analytics.
According to the EASA type certificate data sheet (TCDS EASA.IM.R.120, issue 8, of 14 Jul 2025), the original R22 received its FAA type certificate on 16 Mar 1979, and the R22 Beta on 12 Aug 1985; EASA certification dates from 28 Sep 2003. For the Beta, the data sheet lists a Lycoming O-320-B2C or O-360-J2A engine, a maximum mass of 621 kg, one pilot in the right seat and 1 passenger. Per the same data sheet, "R22 Beta II" is the commercial name of the Beta fitted with the O-360-J2A engine.
The pre-owned median and open listings, kept up to date, are in the price card and the For sale now card of this page.
Reviewed on 26/10/2026. Every number carries its source (manufacturer, certification authority or trade publication, with date); live fleet and market figures are in this page's sections.
Full analysis: listing, mark reservations, charts and change log in the ANAC Monitor.
With more than 4,700 units delivered since 1979, the R22 is one of the most-produced piston helicopters in history and the dominant training helicopter worldwide. Operating cost of ~USD 180/h is a fraction of what it costs to operate a light turbine (~USD 600-800/h in a Bell 206 or AS350). In Brazil, schools such as Helisul, EJ Helicópteros and CAB use the R22 for PP-H (private helicopter pilot license) and initial hour building.
Robinson standardized overhauls at 12 calendar years OR 2,200 hours (whichever comes first), including the Lycoming engine, rotors, gearbox and structure, called the '12-year inspection'. The cost of the full overhaul is ~USD 240,000 (2024), performed at Robinson in Torrance or an authorized MRO. Maintenance predictability is one of its strengths: the aircraft comes out 'zero-time' renewed with a new warranty.
The R22 has a two-blade teetering rotor with low inertia, which makes autorotations more critical than in heavy-rotor helicopters. In 1995 the FAA issued SFAR 73 (Special Federal Aviation Regulation), requiring specific instructor training with hours in the R22/R44 before being able to teach in those models, after a series of accidents in the 1980s/90s involving mast bumping and loss of RPM in low-G maneuvers.
Australians and Americans use the R22 for mustering (herding cattle) on ranches; pilots fly at low heights (15-30 ft AGL) driving herds. The R22 mustering fleet in Australia exceeds 800 units. Robinson even offered an 'Agricultural Configuration' package with tail and rotor protections for use in harsh environments. Also used for horse round-ups on large ranches in Mato Grosso and the Brazilian Pantanal.
Sources: NTSB, CENIPA, Aviation Safety Network
Loss of control in flight
Loss of control in flight
Loss of component in flight
Loss of control on the ground
Loss of control in flight
Engine failure in flight
Other
Undetermined
In-flight collision with obstacle
Loss of control in flight
Listed aircraft with a page on Jet Tracker, from the lowest asking price up. Asking is not the closing price; portals and the reading date are on each page.
15 operational aircraft owned by companies in the ANAC registry (RAB). Each opens the profile with owner, operator, status and history.
PP-MDIPP-MLUPP-SARPP-VGMPR-FJOPR-HNEPR-IHHPR-OEDPR-OEEPS-HFGPS-RZZPT-MAIPT-YDPPT-YNJPT-YPK
A new Robinson R22 Beta starts at US$ 375,000 (list price, per Robinson Helicopter Company, R22 Beta II Price List (cabeçalho 1 January 2025). On the used market the value varies with year and flight hours; see real listings on this model's Market tab. Reference value as of 01/2025.
The maximum range is 240 nm (240 NM · 444 km).
Cruise speed is 96 kt, equivalent to 178 km/h.
The Robinson R22 Beta has 2 seats in total, counting the pilot seat: up to 1 passenger.
There are 60 active units in the RAB-ANAC (data as of 11/12/2026): operational, mark reservation or suspended, excluding cancelled registrations.
40 distinct operators operate 59 units of the Robinson R22 Beta in the RAB-ANAC: 59 in private operation (RBAC 91), concentrated in SP, SC and RJ (data as of 11/12/2026). Another 1 unit is under registration reservation (tail number reserved, not yet operating). Name, fleet and state of each operator are on this model's Analytics tab and in the operators directory.
Jet Tracker estimate: about US$ 699 per flight hour at 200 h/year, of which US$ 234 per hour is variable cost (fuel, engine program, maintenance reserves) plus US$ 93,000 per year of fixed cost (crew, hangar, insurance), under Jet Tracker's default assumptions (Southeast Brazil, in-house crew, 200 h/year). Run your own scenario on this model's Costs tab.
The Robinson R22 Beta is a 2-seat (pilot included) single-engine piston helicopter with a 240 nm range and a 96 kt cruise speed, in production. The up-to-date RAB-ANAC registration count is in the Brazil Fleet section of this page, and the breakdown by status (operational, registration-mark reservation, suspended) is in the model's Analytics.