Kenny Keller (YouTube) defends the Robinson T‑bar cyclic (used on R22/R44) against common criticism based on his own training and long experience. He recounts switching from Schweizers and Enstroms to Robinsons, initially disliking the T‑bar, then growing comfortable and ultimately preferring the R44 for fun and practicality; he also plugs his book "Private Pilot 101" and provides a download/purchase link.
You know, people really love bashing the T bar in the Robinson helicopter. And I get it. I get why you do it, right? So here's this. Here's a cyclic. This is how the instrument turbine. Look at that. Manly. I get it. That looks cool, feels cool. But let me tell you the reality. I started in Schweitzers and Enstrom's and then switched to Robinson after I'd already been flying a little while. And the first time that I got in one, I hated it as well. I'm like, oh, my God, I hate this. What the hell is this? Right? Like. And everybody bashes. It goes, oh, that T bar sucks in the Robinson. Blah, blah, blah. So when I went to start flying Robinson, the young kid I was flying with, flying with, his name was Brad. And he goes, yeah, it's still a helicopter. He goes, once you get used to it, you don't even think anything about it. So I end up doing all my ratings in the R22. And all these years later, I'm flying R22 and R44. And you know what? He was right. Right. It's really no big deal. And the cool part is, once you actually get used to it, it's actually more comfortable. At least for me, anyway. There's. People are going to argue and say, you're full of it. No, it's not, but. And again, this bike looks cool, right? I can remember, you know, back in the day. But the cool thing about this, it allows you to actually rest your arm on your leg and get yourself to where it's super comfortable. And once you get used to it, you've been flying a little while, it really does become no big deal. It flies like a helicopter, right? Yeah, it looks kind of funky. And everybody wants to complain about it, but ultimately they've been using it for God knows how many years. Most popular training or most popular civil aircraft in the world. That's not gonna change anytime soon. Don't let. If somebody hear somebody bashing their album and said, oh, you don't wanna fly R22 because it's got that stupid T bar. I thought the same thing in the beginning I did. I thought, oh, this kind of sucks. But the real story is, once you get used to it, R22 and R44, comfortable little helicopters, you get that. Get used to it. Where you're super comfortable, arms resting on your leg, it's actually not that bad. And it becomes not a big deal. And I can tell you, I guess, going on 30 years of flying, since I actually started started. I've been teaching 24. I have as much fun in these helicopters, specifically more the R44 than the R22s just because it's bigger and more powerful. I have more fun flying an R44 than I did a 6 million dollar aircraft in EMS. Yes, the 6 million dollar helicopter is cool, they're neat and the gadgetry electronics are cool. But you know what? This is a whole hell of a lot more fun. Just saying. Hey, lots of great Tips in Private Pilot 101 our latest Amazon number one bestseller. Free PDF copy down below at the link. You can get the free PDF and or paperback copy at the link down below. So do us a favor, if you enjoy this video on the little R22, how about trying something new, subscribe and like and make a comment down below. That'd be kind of cool. All right, I go to the doctor. Peace out. When you feel the pressure to fly, but know the right decision is to stay on the ground, hit the hogs. No go and live to fly another day. HelicopterGround.com Thumbnails. Hey.
