Sterling Flight Training of Jacksonville has taken delivery of a Robinson R44 for their training school.  Sterling took delivery of the Raven I at the Robinson factory in California and then flew it cross-country to Sterling’s base at Craig Airport (CRG) in Jacksonville, Florida. Chief flight instructor Scott Malone will use the R44 for primary and instrument training, particularly citing the  cost savings vs. training in a larger turbine helicopter.

The particular aircraft is registered N844MA, the registration referring to Malone AirCharter which is in similar ownership to Sterling.  Oddly the R44 is currently registered by the FAA as a “R44 II”, but that does not match the “Raven 1” title on the side or the four-digit Raven 1 serial number (Raven IIs are all five-digit serials).