Aircraft overview

The CH-7 Heli-Sport CH-77 Ranabot is a two-seat light helicopter from CH-7 Heli-Sport, the Italian manufacturer known for compact sport and ultralight rotorcraft. Developed after the single-seat CH-7 series, the CH-77 Ranabot brought a fully enclosed, side-by-side cockpit to the company’s lineup and has been produced in the modern kit and factory-assist light helicopter market. Its role is personal flying, training in appropriate national categories, local touring and owner-flown recreational use. For buyers, it matters because it offers conventional helicopter controls and rotorcraft handling in a relatively small, lower-operating-cost package compared with certified piston helicopters.

Performance & specifications

Typical published performance for the CH-7 Heli-Sport CH-77 Ranabot places cruise speed at about 85 to 90 knots, with range commonly quoted around 250 nautical miles depending on fuel, loading and reserve policy. The aircraft is usually associated with a maximum takeoff weight around 992 lb to 1,102 lb, depending on national approval basis, equipment and configuration. Useful load therefore varies significantly between individual examples. Service ceiling is commonly published at about 10,000 feet. The standard powerplant is the Rotax 914 UL, a turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 115 hp, driving a two-blade main rotor and two-blade tail rotor through the helicopter’s transmission system.

Cabin & avionics

The CH-77 Ranabot seats two occupants side by side in an enclosed cabin, a key distinction from earlier CH-7 Heli-Sport single-seat models. Visibility is broad for a light helicopter, with large transparencies and a compact instrument panel. Cabin comfort, ventilation, trim finish and baggage provision vary by build standard, since many aircraft are completed to owner specification. Avionics are not standardized around integrated suites such as Garmin Perspective or Garmin G1000. Used examples more commonly feature a mix of analog engine and flight instruments, compact EFIS displays, VHF radio, transponder, intercom and GPS units from suppliers such as Garmin, Dynon, MGL or Flybox.

Buying & value

Assessment should focus on build quality, maintenance records, engine time, rotor and transmission component times, service bulletin compliance, weight and balance data, and the exact certification or permit category in the country of registration. Buyers should confirm whether the aircraft has the Rotax 914 installation, updated avionics, cabin heat or ventilation changes, upgraded radios, transponder equipment, and any factory-approved modifications. It should not be evaluated as a CH-7 Kompress or other sibling model, as cabin layout, weight and systems differ. Current PlaneFox used-market data shows asking prices around EUR 146,000 on average, with observed listings from EUR 128,000 to EUR 210,000, positioning the CH-77 Ranabot as a niche owner-flown light helicopter rather than a mainstream certified trainer.