Bell 505 vs. Robinson R66 Comparison 

I was a mechanic in the Gulf of Mexico oil patch in the 1970s. Most of my offshore experience was with the Bell 206B III and 206L I ships. Our pilots were mostly Vietnam vets and they were the absolute best. I always felt safe with them, including during one autorotation forced by a failure of the centrifugal compressor diffuser casting and N1 dropped to nearly zero over Matagorda Island in a brand new ship. We were starting to get A-Stars in the fleet but the Bells were always number one in my book.

Putting the rep on the spot concerning low blade life: CHECK! Great video.

Thank you for going through the expense and the trouble of providing this very balanced and informative video! Based on the information you provided, I am TOTALLY SOLD - on the R-66! I operate a flight school, charter and tour operation with a modest fleet of R22 and R44s. The R66 looks almost identical to the R44, and with some nominal training on turbine engine starts and systems, it seems that any R44 pilot can transition easily. Also, for the price of the Bell 505, I can purchase both a new R66 and another R44 and substantially increase my lift. For basic charter, tour and training operations, the R66 offers superior payload and range, although the B505 is the "Mercedes". As a businessman, I can generate more income with two Fords than with one Mercedes. I can rent a R66 in my local area for around USD $800 an hour. A Bell product runs for over $1200 per hour. The Bell 505 has the removable seats feature, and would make an excellent package hauler vs. the Robinson product. But other than that, the price does not justify the cost. Of course, if I had a fleet of Jet Ranger helicopters, I would probably add the Bell 505 to my fleet for commonality of pilot and mechanic training. Thank you for this very informative video.

I really enjoyed this comparison of the two aircraft. It was very informative and should be a great tool for prospective pilots to more understand the costs afforded Owner Operators that otherwise is difficult for them to visualize. Equally, the demonstration of the two really different helicopters broadens the perspectives of pilots no matter how many hours they have. New technologies change everyday. So this plays into the thought process of what someone may want to train in. Thanks so very much!

Pilot Yellow does comms to professional perfection. Everytime I hop back into some of his content it jumps out at me. Plus the rest of what he does extremely well. Thanks for the great stuff. It is inspirational and educational. 🙏

Thanks for the terrific video!! Although I've never flown a helicopter I've had an interest in them for years. The guy who taught me to fly fixed wing had been a Bell Cobra pilot for 13 yrs. in the military and our many conversations regarding helicopters led me to develop quite an interest in them.

i can barely afford a car,what the hell am i doing here? XD

So been watching a few helicopter tubers and this guy is truly a genuine helicopter pilot. A pleasure watching and learning from his experience of flying helicopters.

Your channel with this video came up as a suggestion for me to watch on RU-vid. I watched this video, along with several other of your videos and you have just made a new fan and subscriber :)

Really enjoyed this! The 206 has always been my favourite so my eyes were on stalks with this.

Fantastic, thanks ever so much Mischa for spending so much time on this - I love the longer videos. Have a great weekend!

That's why I love flying our 206! Great machine! Great job again! What a fun informative video!

For the first time on BELL505 you DOING EXCELLENT JOB Pilot Yellow.

Thank you Mischa and Bell. Loved every second of this.

Best video you’ve produced in a while, in my opinion. I love the nerdy stuff. Thanks Micha and team!

The salesman was just that... a salesman. The bald guy seemed to know what he was talking about. I did think it was funny at the beginning when the questions you were asking were more technical than the salesman was. In my opinion the Bell is such a beautiful machine. The lines are classic and traditional. I have always thought the Robinson line is just so ugly. The high rotor setup makes it look fragile and homely. Again, just my opinion. I loved this video. I loved the fly ability apples to apples comparison. Great job to everyone. Great to see Sam still around there.

Good info and good comparison. Your plan was spot on, but I also find it hard to do all the full tests with borrowed ships. I currently fly the Robinson R-44 Raven II. Couple other thoughts for me as a private pilot. I land in a lot of tight places and the R66 is smaller with same blade diameter at R44. The gadgets are cool on 505, but that alarm was annoying. I also think weight balance inside the ship is a little too late to figure that out IMO. Very hard to kick someone out after they took the trip, although, with the R66 you are less likely going to have to do that. I do all my W&B before flight and plan everything with fuel, etc. I also tell passengers to be light on baggage and bring soft bags. I personally think the R66 is a way better buy for range, load carrying capacity, size, cost, cost to run, insurance, maintenance, familiarity, ease of use, and it has auto pilot which is nice for long trips. The logger in the 505 is nice, but you can add an engine monitor to the R66 to help with resale. I added the G3 Insight to my R44 so you know everything it did during its entire life including engine and rotor over revs. I made a program that will search through all the years of data and look for over revs if interested. Keep up the good work and safe flying! PS. I'm getting a helmet as well soon. You convinced me. :)

Excellent upload. 505 made very interesting comparison with the Soloy 47 I flew back in the 80s (G-SOLY). So much different, but you can still see the family resemblance! Thank you sirs.

Just dam brilliant, thank you very much. We await the BA609 comparison!!!

I loved this video. I was glued to the channel for a solid 54:02 👍👍

Hey Mischa, the red head behind you kept looking at the guy with a hard stare. LOL!🤣😂🤣😂

I've test-flown the 505 and it's a pretty good helicopter, I would definitely choose it over the 66 because it has an excellent rotor system (I don't like worrying about mast rocking and blade delamination), 3 proper rear seats (unlike the bs 66 rear row), a real cyclic, FADEC, and a much better instrument panel and avionics. But there are some design flaws that they should've addressed.. one of my main gripes was that the beams that the front doors attach to are very wide and this creates a huge blind spot to the sides that really reduces your peripheral vision and you have to move your head far forward or back to see around them. Also, especially with the duals in it's quite difficult to get into the left front seat. The baggage compartment also doesn't compare to the huge one in the 66 with easy access to it. Frankly I find them both to have been fairly lazy efforts from their respective companies.. both reaching to the old parts bin an awful lot and not really innovating in a dramatic way.

Bell 505 hands down. A Jet Ranger with near Long Ranger capability without the cost. The look is certainly growing on me. Visibility looks great.

Pilot Yellow was not at all thrilled to hear the inspection interval on the main rotor blades of the Bell! Great video as always!

Nice demonstration and comparison of the two types. Well-done on a very informative and interesting video!

I fly Bell helicopters since 30 years. A friend who flies both 505 and R 66 confirmed that the R 66 is more powerful, specially in high altitude.

If I'm not mistaken the R66 has a Low Inertia Rotor System and the Bell 505 a High Inertia Rotor System so lets talk about the Safety. Also a crashworthy fuel cell and system standard on the 505. Not sure if that's standard on the R66?

I'm into aesthetics... the bell looks 10,000% cooler than the 66

The R66 is a work horse for Ethnos 360 Aviation and is flown in the mountainous regions of Indonesia where runways are not practical to build and roads can be dangerous or nonexistent.

thanks for the reviews and comparisons. Have to admit, I was disappointed when the 505 was launched, looks not great and still a 2 blade machine. But clearly a huge upgrade on the systems and reduced pilot work load. But R66 still quite a bit cheaper, so perhaps for commercial, 505 and for private, 66. But have to admit, If I had the money, I would probably go EC-120

Yep, yeah yup, ok yep yeah uh huh, yep mmhmm. Yeah yep okay yup yep okay yeah . Ok eh . Yep!

I considered buying a 505 several months ago, but found a good used Buick LeSabre instead. Big difference listening to this pilot vs the sales rep ! That Bell is really good looking. Much better lines than the R66 and clearly a true “next generation” helicopter. Really fun and interesting video !

I was just thinking how smooth it was when you said the same word ... Very nice ride

Talking to the Bell rep like I talk to car salesman, but talking to the pilot like a fellow professional. That's perfect, exactly how I would be. haha

Nice subjective review. Because you make us do the flight with you, it gives us more insights than maybe some of the other written reviews.

Killer drinking game. Shot every time you hear "Ya". Bonus shots on "But Ya". I grew up in an S-58T. I wouldn't know what to do in these little fleas..lol. Thanks - Lumpy

Excellent! I've waited for months to see the 505 actually fly! I reckon the hire rate is going to be a delicate decision,depending purely on the purpose and quality as required by the hirer. Cost appears to favour the Robinson,but for an up to date pilot, the Bell could be the better option. Anyway,thanks for the video,very enjoyable and interesting.

Its my understanding that the 505 is a beast, very powerful for the aircrafts size. However you do pay for that in fuel burn. It looks to me like the 66 is the best entry into turbines and the 505 is the next with the ability to work it harder and impress your friends. Kind of like comparing the Toyota Tercel to a big Lexus sedan. They both do the job. No problems however one is more comfortable, more powerful, and impresses your friends. Thank you and be safe.

Thank you for posting, love it.

I love the infamous Gulf - Echo - Alpha - Kilo R66 lol. Missing the Spanish accent on GEAK, lol. Anyone not familiar with the R66 here, they flew it around the world. Look for the "Epic World helicopter tour"

Mate, I love this video, I have watched it like 5 times! Good work

I appreciate them both. Good video.

That is one fine looking aircraft! I'm not all the way through the video, but I hope it flies as good as it looks.

Thanks, I enjoyed this tremendously. I really need to learn to fly this machines.

He started listing off all the materials that are used and my mechanic in me is like, "Oh no. This thing is going to suck for corrosion."

I am curious about your thoughts on egress from the Bell 505. Crew and passengers share the same door and it appears necessary to move forward seats aft to exit. This design philosophy departs from previous Bell products and other existing designs in what looks like weight and or cost savings. Interestingly Bell adopts the same idea for their new Bell 525 which does not feature separate crew doors and requires seats to shift aft on J-tracks to exit. In a hard landing is there any chance that the seats could locked in their flight position due to allowed deformation such that getting out in a hurry is no longer an option?

As you said, they can be very similar in many ways. But I feel one point was left out and I'd REALLY like to hear your opinion on it Sir. CUSTOMER SUPPORT. I dont know Robinson like you do but I do hear from operators that Bell has EXCELLENT after the sale support. I think that would be worth the price difference? If you would, please chime in. I'm really curious. Fantastic video, I REALLY ENJOY when you do long video's . lol And this one was super informative, as many of them are.

The 505 is a beautiful chopper! Always wanted to see the inside of it

wish I could afford flight school for helicopter. I flew as a crew member in an AS350B2 aka A-star for about a year, 5 days a week in L.A. for a TV news station. Loved it... But if I were to buy a helicopter today I'd get the 505, I love it.... We had jetrangers in the fleet as backup ships when the A star was in for service so I've got flying time in those as well.

Is the 505 nose heavy and under powered? I've read it's CG balancing is iffy.

My Favorite Helios to operate is the Bell 407 and The MD-500 and overall the 505 conversion of the 206 model isn't quite what I would expected to look like but all front Veiws is not to bad

We'll we know that drivetrain can take 700+ HP, I guess time will tell if the airframe will be able to do the same... Future looks bright for this one.

So if you trip a breaker you just pull over and reset it?

8:57 “4 inches of stroking”

Seems pretty nice. I like that the center broom closet is removed in this model. FIrst limit indicators do take a bit to get accustomed to.

Wow! Hey Mischa, that's a sweet looking heli.

Well done. Love the comparison. Thank you.

I would rather be in Bell over a Robinson any day of the week, and I will not set foot in a R-22. Nice video, thanks!!!

Interesting. It's Good to see that there is some carry over from the 206b, such as problematic headsets in the rear haha. As for your other blog regarding a 14yr old flying a helicopter. My mentor and flying instructor was Dennis Kenyon, a world champion freestyle pilot, who sadly passed away in 2020. His son competently flew a Jet ranger from cold to full flight and land at 11yrs old. He could have happily traversed the UK on his own, but for regulations. Unfortunately, he was Killed as a teenager, flying a Hughes 300. The tail boom parted company, and the aircraft became a flying anvil. The cause was a failure of a clevis lug. It turned out the lug was welded (cast), by a welder who wasn't approved by the Civil Aviation Authority. Dennis never got over his son's death. So sad.

Thoroughly Enjoyed this Video! Thanks so Much!!

Regardless of the technical progress and improvements, if this is the successor of the Bell Jet Ranger, I like the looks of the Jet Ranger way more. The design is an unbeatable classic. This machine here looks kinda clumsy. Just sayin...

Nice reviews! Your critical eye and questions made me feel like this was a potential buy consideration for you guys? OR something you're thinking about in the future? I was excited about the auto, did you get to shoot one in the end? Cheers!

Hill HX50 Vs Bell 505 will be a great video!

Thanks - great video. I would be also interested how you assess their capabilties (and maybe downsides) when it comes to emergency situations, like LTE or engine failure. Would you then rather sit in a R66 or Bell 505?

I'm at 18:39 never flown a chopper only once controlled a fixed wing, would Love to fly but too old now and really enjoying this video - I'm feeling like I'm knowing how the craft is working and would love to hold a second stick to feel the hand to inner ear connection. I know that as soon as you fly the first time you're totally screwed - now you want to see Space first hand and then it's "what's that rock out there?" I'd love to feel the stick to experience the hand/stick to inner ear connection like you do with a car or bike or boat but in 3D

4:19 Dude in the back is into mining I guess 😂😂😂

Both great birds, personally in that price range I’d be going with an MD however. If I stepped up I would go airbus, or AW.

This is excellent material

In the 505, at what TQ were you hovering with 4 people onboard? Also, does it come with an auto pilot?

Glass cockpit is beautiful in the 505. And auto W&B? That's soooo cool.

I watched the video but I am still confused as to what the major differences are. I see a lot more people say the Bell 505 is it the seats and the storage? I don't know the technical terms but I like the idea of a more comfy flight for recreational flying like out to beaches for diving and mountains for snowboarding and if it could hold 6 people I would be stoked :)

Lots of pilots would rather fly the proven good old 206 !!!

Question: Turbulence induced mast bumping...your thoughts?

Excellent review. I think as you said at the end, although they are similar, they are not the same. I could say a Nissan SUV and a Jaguar SUV, both SUVs, but both different. I you are training, and for mamy other roles, the Robinson is perfect. For different roles, the 505 is better.

Nice review, thanks for posting. In terms of purchasing cost an aircraft that is similar to the 505 is the As350 b2. Maybe you could consider that one as well?

Still prefer the good old 206.

Thanks for the comprehensive video👍

"Yep" "Yep" "Yep" "Yep"

Great video! Thanks for this intro for my curiosity.

Can a private owner of an aircraft change oil or some maintenance on his own craft?

Axing you guys a question... what is the radius (must equal x2 diameter) the Schweitzer, Robinson, Bell. My point is... the higher speed of heli rotor tips, the higher the tension. Cranking the collective, in stills both tension, and compression.

Does the 505 have the same rotor system and mast bumping risk as a Robinson or is it a different design without that low-g bumping problem?

There IS no comparison. I'll tell you that in Hawaii, where I was born and have lived most of my life and learned to fly (31 years with airlines) I've been privy to an incredible world of tour and private helicopter operations. And with helicopter traffic, 90% of all serious accidents are in Robinsons. They just aren't made as sturdily or reliably as a Bell. . . and that's a fact.

That's one beautiful machine...

I like the simplicity of the Bell 505, but how will the instruments cope with low temp situations in the winter. Nice to see the comparison of these two very different helicopters. Thanks for the video.

Great video! It would’ve been better if we had a cockpit view while the instructor was explaining, instead of your facial expression...

Thanks Gents! My left fluffy nuft and my right hairy nuft are similar. However, SO IMPORTANT: THE HELICOPTERS R66 and Bell 505 each have their neuauncqes.

I'm a Bell fan, they take ground fire really well. :-)

Weird ... not many like the R-66, but yet it still out sells all the other models mentioned. I guess when it comes to breaking out your own wallet the R-66 is not such a bad deal for similar performance (or better in some cases).

Can you please tell how the R66 would perform at 7500 feet elevation OAT 30 degrees. thanks

Very Cool Bell 505! Thanks for sharing.

Great video! I like the idea of a face to face comparison. I guess the Enstrom 480B is in the same Category, isn't it? I would like to see those face to face.

The part from 19:00 somthing should have shown more af the pannel, I think.

They're cool. What about the one flown by the helicopter pilot in “The Spy Who Loved Me”?

How does the Direct Operating Cost compare to the Bell 206B3 with the Bell 505. It would have been nice to see a couple of Autos to check out the gliding performance. I would have to say i prefer the 206 when it comes to loading passengers in either the left door or have to squeeze in past the pilots seat.

GREAT PIREP Misha!!!!! I think you have a second job---selling Bell 505's!! I was very impressed with the professionalism of the Bell folks! I also like that no one bad mouthed either MFG---an excellent video!!!! There are a number of MFG's building prototype human piloted drone type helicopters that will be a heck of a lot easier to fly---would be great if you could check out some of these new Companies and give us a "sneak peak" at what the disruptors are doing in the industry!!!! Thanks!!!

Still trying to get used to how the 505 looks. I don’t like how it looks at all yet. Seems like an odd detail to get wrong. The Kopter SH09 shows how it could be done. It doesn’t take much.

Did the camera add a level of tension? Or did it fade away into the background?.. great show..

ll comes down to cost per flight hour. As everybody is just wants them hours for the cheapest cost. If you're trying to get to that magic 500 hours of logged flight time. Not to mention the cost per student for 200 hour sling load certified...

It is all about mission parameters as to which one you chose. For my two bits, if it was solely for my recreational use, I would go with the R66.