Tue, Nov 15, 2011
Frank Robinson's Innovative Chopper Revitalized An
Industry
Yes... GA and BizAv is in really rough shape... but one of the
truly monumental American aviation success stories revolves solely
around the little helicopter that could -- and keeps doing so
-- through some 10000 iterations thus far.
On the 10th of November, Robinson Helicopter delivered R44 S/N
13217, the company’s 10,000th helicopter to come off its
production line. A celebration was held at the Torrance factory.
Company employees along with representatives from the city, the FAA
and many of Robinson’s vendors were in attendance.
Frank Robinson (pictured below), the company’s founder,
spoke briefly to a packed room about the company’s humble
beginnings. The company was founded in 1973 and the first Robinson
helicopter was delivered in 1979. Today, Robinson Helicopter
manufactures more civilian helicopters than any other helicopter
manufacturer in the world. Robinson thanked the City of Torrance
stating that it was the city’s unwavering support in the
early years that convinced him to keep the company in Torrance. He
went on to describe leaner times noting that unlike other
helicopter manufactures, Robinson has never received a dime of
government money or relied on government contracts.
Kurt Robinson, the company’s president, also spoke
thanking employees for making “what we believe are the
highest quality helicopters in the world.”
Robinson noted that based on statistics provided by the AIA
(Aerospace Industries Association), Robinson has, since the early
80s, produced more civil helicopters than all other U.S.
manufacturers combined. The company’s current production rate
is ten helicopters per week and Robinson predicts the
company’s total aircraft production for 2011 will more than
double last year’s production.
The keys to the 10,000th helicopter were presented to
Robinson’s Brazilian dealer, Audi Helicopters. Audi has been
a Robinson dealer for 25 years and is one of two Robinson dealers
in Brazil. Foreign orders have consistently represented more than
50% of the company’s total sales.
Kurt Robinson
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