Robinson R44 Cadet Helicopter

← Robinson R44 family

The Robinson R44 Cadet is a two-seat training and utility variant announced in 2015 and delivered from 2016. The rear seats are removed and replaced by a cargo area, and the Lycoming O-540 is derated to 210 hp take-off, lowering the gross weight to 2,200 lb.

Crucially for flight schools, the Cadet has an extended 2,400-hour time between overhauls (versus 2,200 hours on other R44s), reducing training cost per hour. It bridges the gap between the two-seat R22 and the four-seat Raven, and used examples generally sell between $350,000 and $560,000.

Buy it if you run a school or build hours and want R44 handling; choose a four-seat R44 if you need to carry passengers, or an R22 for the lowest training cost.

Robinson R44 Cadet helicopter for sale

13 used Robinson R44 Cadet helicopters for sale · 2-seat · Reference price ~$340,000 ($260,000–$450,000) · updated 18 hours ago

Robinson R44 Cadet Specifications

Model spec

The Robinson R44 Cadet is a 2-seat piston helicopters with a cruise speed of 105–113 kt (194–209 km/h), a range of 300 nm (556 km), and a useful load of 750–994 lbs (340–451 kg).

Performance
Cruise105–113 kt (194–209 km/h)
Max Speed117–130 kt (217–241 km/h)
Range300 nm (556 km)
Service Ceiling14,000 ft (4,267 m)
Engine & Fuel
EngineLycoming O-540-F1B5 (derated)
Horsepower210–245 HP
Fuel Capacity31.0–50.0 gal (117–189 L)
Fuel Burn14.0–16.0 GPH (53–61 L/h)
TBO2,200–2,400 hrs
ICAO TypeR44
Weights & Seats
Seats2–4
Max Gross Weight2,200–2,500 lbs (998–1,134 kg)
Useful Load750–994 lbs (340–451 kg)
Production2016–present

Robinson R44 Cadet for Sale

Browse all listings →

Robinson R44 Cadet asking prices range from $357,593 to $520,000, with a median of $440,626 (market reference $340,000).

$357,593
For Sale
Location Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom
Via HeliAir
$361,253
For Sale
Total Time 1,332
Reg# G-OCAF UK
Multiple sources
Listed 1mo ago
$520,000
New
Reg# L#895K
Location Saint Augustine, FL
Multiple sources
$520,000
For Sale
Location St Augustine, FL
Contact for Price
On Request
Location Sarasota, FL
Contact for Price
On Request
Location Sarasota, FL
Contact for Price
On Request
Total Time 433
Contact for Price
On Request
Reg# G-ICEZ UK
Location Maidenhead, United Kingdom
Multiple sources
Contact for Price
On Request
Total Time 172
Contact for Price
On Request
Total Time 1,332
Location Austria

Robinson R44 Cadet Variants

Variant Years Seats Cruise Range Useful load Price range Best for Listings for sale
R44 1993–now 4 110 kts (204 km/h) 300 nm (556 km) 882 lbs (400 kg) $25K – $775K Private, family and light-commercial flying — four seats, far cheaper to run than a turbine 9
R44 Astro 1993–2000 4 110 kts (204 km/h) 300 nm (556 km) 882 lbs (400 kg) $22K – $155K Vintage buyers wanting the lowest entry price 5
R44 Clipper I 2000–now 4 109 kts (202 km/h) 300 nm (556 km) 882 lbs (400 kg) Water operations on a budget 3
R44 Raven I 2000–now 4 109 kts (202 km/h) 300 nm (556 km) 882 lbs (400 kg) $59K – $490K Budget-conscious private owners 77
R44 Clipper II 2002–now 4 109 kts (202 km/h) 300 nm (556 km) 994 lbs (451 kg) $94K – $549K Coastal, island and lake operations 15
R44 Raven II 2002–now 4 113 kts (209 km/h) 300 nm (556 km) 994 lbs (451 kg) $10K – $750K Buyers wanting newest tech and strongest resale 167

Compare Robinson R44 Cadet

See how the Robinson R44 Cadet stacks up against similar aircraft in specs, price, and operating costs.

⏲ Compare R44 Raven II vs R44 Astro vs R44 Raven I →

Robinson R44 Cadet Price & Cost

How much does a Robinson R44 Cadet cost? Used R44 Cadet prices: $357K – $520K, average $439K (median $440K); market reference $340K, across 4 priced of 13 active listings.

Robinson R44 Cadet Price Guide

Key price factors: engine time to overhaul, year and airframe hours, avionics, damage history and logbook completeness — see the buying guide below for the full pre-purchase checklist.

Robinson R44 Cadet Cost of Ownership estimate
Fuel (14.0 GPH × $6.20, 100 hrs)$8,680/yr
Annual Fixed (hangar, insurance, annual)$25,000/yr
Variable (per hour)$185/hr
Engine Overhaul (every 2,400 hrs)$150,000
Estimates at 100 flight hours/year. Actual costs vary by usage, location and insurance.

Robinson R44 Cadet Value by Model Year

Median asking price by year of manufacture. Newer airframes command a premium; value falls with age then plateaus on older models.

$804K $448K $91K
$91K
$157K
$179K
$105K
$182K
$242K
$232K
$225K
$262K
$259K
$270K
$299K
$369K
$338K
$414K
$359K
$359K
$174K
$300K
$320K
$189K
$440K
$549K
$607K
$478K
$512K
$680K
$804K
$695K
’94
’99
’01
’03
’05
’07
’09
’11
’13
’15
’17
’19
’22
’24
’26

Lowest around $91,000 (1994 models) · highest around $804,500 (2025). Bars scaled across the range to show the depreciation curve; hover for exact medians.

Buying a Used Robinson R44 Cadet

Buying a Robinson R44 Cadet comes down to a focused pre-purchase checklist — here is what matters most on this model:

What to check before buying

The Robinson R44 Cadet is a two-seat training and utility variant announced in 2015 and delivered from 2016. The rear seats are removed and replaced by a cargo area, and the Lycoming O-540 is derated to 210 hp take-off and 185 hp continuous, lowering the gross weight to 2,200 lb. Crucially for flight schools, the Cadet has an extended 2,400-hour time between overhauls (versus 2,200 hours on other R44s), reducing training cost per hour. It bridges the gap between the two-seat R22 and the four-seat Raven.

Frequently Asked Questions — Robinson R44 Cadet

How much does a Robinson R44 Cadet cost?
Used R44 Cadets generally sell between $350,000 and $560,000, averaging around $510,000 — they are relatively recent (2016 onward) so most are low-time.
What is the difference between the R44 Cadet and Raven I?
The Cadet is a two-seat version with the rear seats removed for cargo, a derated 210 hp engine, a lower 2,200 lb gross weight, and a longer 2,400-hour overhaul interval aimed at flight training economics.
Why do flight schools choose the R44 Cadet?
Its 2,400-hour TBO (versus 2,200 on other R44s) and simplified two-seat configuration lower the training cost per hour while retaining R44 handling, easing transition to the Raven.
How many seats does the R44 Cadet have?
Two. The rear bench is removed and replaced with a cargo compartment, distinguishing it from the four-seat Raven and Clipper models.

Robinson R44 Cadet Inventory by Country

United States9
United Kingdom4
Austria1
Australia1
Lowz1

Robinson R44 Cadet Inventory by State

Florida27
California11
Texas7
Oregon4
South Carolina4
Nevada2
Virginia2
Kansas2
Utah2
Ohio2

Robinson R44 Cadet by Price

Under $100k18
Under $200k85
Under $300k148
Under $500k263

Robinson R44 Cadet by Decade

2010s4
2020s10

Recently Sold Robinson R44 Cadet

2020 R44 Cadet$327,268

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Robinson R44 Cadet Safety Record

No NTSB events on record for the Robinson R44 Cadet. Individual aircraft safety records may be available on detail pages.

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Disclaimer: All prices, cost estimates, and market values shown are based on asking prices from third-party sources and are provided for informational purposes only. AeroGurus is not an appraiser, broker, or financial advisor. Always obtain a professional appraisal and independent inspection before making a purchase decision.
Listings last refreshed 18 hours ago · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data