Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

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Robinson Helicopter has chosen three new suppliers for the R88, which will be the largest helicopter manufactured by the Torrance, California-based company. Capable of carrying 10 occupants, the single-engine R88 is a utility and passenger transport helicopter. With a flat-floor cabin, the helicopter features a truck-bed style rear door to facilitate cargo or stretcher loading. Robinson brought the R88 mockup to its Verticon exhibit, and this is the same mockup that was unveiled at last year’s show.
The new suppliers are GPMS, which will provide the Foresight MX health and usage monitoring system (HUMS); Outerlink for its Iris connected aircraft solution for flight data monitoring and communications; and Skurka Aerospace, which will manufacture the R88’s Safran Helicopters Engines Arriel 2W’s brushless starter-generator.
Calling it a “first for the single-engine helicopter market,” the Foresight MX HUMS will capture and transmit health data after each flight. The HUMS includes automated rotor track and balance optimization and will be standard on the R88, with five years of Level 1 and one year of Level 2 monitoring included. Level 1 monitors the health status of critical systems, while Level 2 can identify bearing and gear health and calculate the remaining life of critical parts.
Outerlink’s Iris provides a satellite communications link to stream more than 300 flight parameters, including GPS location, engine health, and HUMS data. Pilots will be able to contact dispatch immediately using the Iris push-to-talk voice-over internet protocol feature at any location or altitude.
Like all Robinson Helicopters, the R88 will be equipped with video and audio recording devices, and Iris supports up to five audio channels. Video and audio can be mapped to flight data to provide more mission information. The system can also trigger alerts to maintenance personnel if there is a mechanical exceedance or emergency situation, and send real-time fuel data and weather conditions, measured at the helicopter, with position reports. “This allows ground crews to monitor range and trigger automated alerts for predetermined fuel and weather minimums,” according to Outerlink.
Robinson selected the Skurka Aerospace brushless starter-generator to help lower life cycle costs and improve R88 availability. The brushless unit eliminates brush inspections and the risk of carbon-tracking failures.
“Utilizing easier-to-maintain components and real-time data streaming ensures R88 operators have more time in the air and a clearer picture of aircraft health,” said Robinson president and CEO David Smith. “These advancements reflect Robinson’s focus on ensuring the R88 is the most dependable, reliable, and economic helicopter for individual owners and para-public missions.”

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