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Top 10 best-selling rotorcraft in 2021

By General Aviation News Staff · March 6, 2022 ·

2021 saw the rebound of the helicopter industry from the woeful pandemic days.

Turbine helicopter sales plummeted 16.9% in 2020 and piston helicopter sales did even worse, with a 20.7% drop.

But that all turned around in 2021, with piston helicopter increasing 27.5% in 2021 to 181, while turbine helicopter deliveries increased 24.8% to 645. The value of helicopter deliveries for 2021 was $3.7 billion, an increase of approximately 28%, according to the latest figures from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

So who were the top sellers in 2021?

1. Robinson R66: 86

A patriotic R66 Turbine lifts off from Half Moon Bay Airport. (Photo by Hayman Tam)

2. Airbus H125: 84

The Airbus H125. (Photo by Hayman Tam)

3. Robinson R44 Raven II: 81

Robinson R44 Raven II.

4. Bell 505: 63

Bell 505.

5. Bell 407 GXi: 56

Bell 407 GXi.

6. Airbus H145: 44

Airbus H145.

7. Robinson R44 Raven I: 34

Robinson R44 Raven I.

8. Robinson R22 Beta II: 33

Robinson R22 Beta II.

9. Bell 429: 28

Bell 429.

10. Leonardo AW139: 22

Leonardo AW139. (Unless otherwise noted, all photos are courtesy the manufacturers)

You can see the full year-end report from GAMA, which breaks down each manufacturer and model, at GAMA.aero.

Click here to see the best-selling piston airplanes of 2021. Click here to see the best-selling business jets. Click here to see the best-selling turboprops.

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