From our regular walks up and down the static park, the helicopter generating the most interest looks to be the two seater Guimbal Cabri G2.  Having not appeared at Helitech before, the French-built aircraft has been delivered in the last few days to Cotswold Helicopter Centre, the new UK distributor.  They are expecting a second Cabri in spring 2012.  Although not quite signed off by the UK CAA, this is expected in the next few weeks and is merely a formality given that the type is already EASA certified.  Bookings are already being taken for training.

Given the numbers, the Cabri is the Robinson R22 which everyone wanted – more payload, more shoulder and elbow room, and a greater range.  Although priced closer to the R44 to the R22, one target market is current R44 owners who don’t need the third and fourth seats.

Company president Bruno Guimbal is giving a presentation of the aircraft in the static park this morning at 11am.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com