Our Aircraft
Mauna Loa Helicopters has carefully selected our aircraft to give you the best education possible. We fly Robinson Helicopters, Cessna airplanes, and Piper airplanes. Wherever you fly in the world, chances are that you will spend some time in aircraft one of these three manufacturers. The low acquisition costs, proven safety records, and popularity are just some of the reasons we believe these will give you the best start to your career.
Robinson R22
Excellent performance, great reliability, and robust construction make the two-seat R-22 ideal for flight training. More than 3,600 R-22 helicopters have been delivered to more than 60 countries. The R-22 holds major performance records in its weight class including speed and distance. Mauna Loa Helicopters flies the Beta II version of this aircraft exclusively. The Beta II’s clean aerodynamic design allows a top speed of over 100mph and a miserly fuel burn of about nine gallons per hour.
No other helicopter in its class can match its speed, reliability and low operating costs. Robinson’s commitment to high quality in design, materials and craftsmanship make the R-22 an obvious candidate for best helicopter for flight training and other applications that require performance, dependability, efficiency and easy maintenance.
Robinson R44
Mauna Loa Helicopters uses the Robinson R-44 Raven II exclusively, a terrific aircraft equipped with a fuel-injected, angle-valve, tuned-induction, IO-540 Lycoming engine which produces good power, speed, altitude performance and useful load. The Raven II is also quieter than its predecessor, the Raven I.
The engine is de-rated to 245 HP for 5 minutes and 205 HP maximum continuous rating to assure a longer life and lower cost of maintenance. Main rotor blades have greater effective lifting area which reduces vibration.
Main and tail blades have new aerodynamic tip caps which reduce the 500-foot flyover noise level despite the higher gross weight. A standard 28-volt electrical system ensures good starting performance and provides additional electrical power for optional equipment.
Robinson R66
The Robinson R-66 Helicopter is used for the turbine training at Mauna Loa Helicopters. It is a 5 place efficient light turbine helicopter with 300hp rolls royce engine. The R66 has the versatility and performance to reach the highest mountains Hawaii has to offer; Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea at nearly 14,000’MSL. It combines the easy flight characteristics of the Robinson R-44 with the performance of a much larger helicopter. The R66 features five seats and a separate cargo hold which is capable of carrying up to three hundred pounds. It is slightly faster and smoother than the R44 from which it was derived.
The R66 was announced in 2007 by Robinson Helicopters. Since they began taking orders in 2010, the R66 has outsold all other light single turbine helicopters combined by a ratio of nearly five to one. Seventy percent of the helicopters are sold overseas where its primary competitors are Bell and Eurocopter.
Cessna 172N
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high wing aircraft developed by the Cessna Aircraft Company. The Skyhawk has been proven in the world of flight training as being an easy-to-fly airplane. The Cessna 172N has upgraded features from older Skyhawk models, including a 180-horsepower engine, larger fuel tanks, and greater carrying capacity. This aircraft has a range of 600 nautical miles with a normal cruising speed of 124 knots. With a useful load of 900+ pounds, the Cessna 172 is used all over for its versatility and reliability. With more Cessna 172s built than any other airplane, the Skyhawk’s great handling characteristics and simple aircraft systems make it a popular airplane for beginners and experts alike.
Piper Arrow
The Piper Arrow II is an upgraded version of the popular Piper Cherokee, which is thought as one of the best low wing aircraft for flight training. The Piper Arrow II has an upgraded 200 horsepower engine, retractable landing gear, and a controllable pitch propeller for increased efficiency and speed. This easy-to-learn airplane is great for everything from the beginning of flight training to complex aircraft training. With four seats and a useful load of 750+ pounds, the Piper Arrow II can fly at a normal cruise speed of 131 knots with a max range of 900 nautical miles. The Piper Arrow II’s capabilities allow for more flexibility in training and is an enjoyable plane to fly.
Piper Seneca II
The Piper Seneca II is a six-seat, twin-engine, low-wing airplane that can be used for anything from training to transportation. With two turbocharged engines rated to 200 horsepower each, this airplane can fly further, faster, and higher than most piston airplanes in its class. This extremely capable aircraft has a max range of 900 nautical miles and can fly to a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet. The Piper Seneca II has a 1000-pound useful load and can fly at a normal cruise speed of 160 knots. This airplane also comes equipped with retractable landing gear, controllable pitch propellers, and updated avionics. The Piper Seneca II is a great light twin airplane for transition to multi-engine flying.