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Welcome to The Helicopter Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS!

In this exciting in-person episode, host Halsey Schider takes The Helicopter Podcast to the pulsing heart of Verticon 2025, sitting down with Robinson Helicopter Company’s CEO David Smith, and VP of Engineering Sean Doyle.

The conversation ignites with the R66’s stunning transformation. David and Sean unpack its bold upgrades—cutting-edge avionics, a seamless 2-axis autopilot, and a trio of fresh options: the affordable Southwood, the refined Palo Verde, and the one-year-only Riviera special edition. It’s a pilot’s dream, reimagined with flair and precision.

The spotlight then swings to the R88, Robinson’s brand-new sensation unveiled at Verticon. David and Sean trace its path from a spark of inspiration to the cusp of flight, teasing a versatile, two-blade titan built for power, efficiency, and flexibility for missions like utility, EMS, tours, and firefighting across the globe. David shares his thrill at the reveal, envisioning its impact worldwide, as well as deep insights into safety innovations, like autopilot inputs to avoid Low-G, that have never been applied or considered in two-bladed helicopters before.

Join Halsey, David, and Sean for a front-row seat to Robinson’s electrifying next chapter!

Thank you to our sponsors Astronautics Corporation of America, Robinson Helicopter and Hillsboro Heli Academy.