ALL Things Robinson: RHC's Founder Talks About The ...

Frank Talks About Good Years, Presidential Visits, The R66 And The Rolls Royce RR300

Life has been good for Frank Robinson and the R22/44/66 family. After years of building expertise throughout the helicopter industry, Frank Robinson set out several decades ago to do what they said could not be done... create a powerful new civil helicopter company. He did it... and probably did so beyond even his own imaginings.

For example, as 2007 was coming to a close, the folks at Robinson Helicopter Company achieved another milestone when their 8000th helicopter was flight certified. The new, solid green, Robinson R44 Raven II S/N 11984 was ordered by SkySales Aviation (Christchurch, New Zealand) for a private owner.

In the past few months, RHC played host to a visit by President Bush... no doubt attracted by RHC's exceptional overseas helicopter sales... making them a major aerospace exporter and a great place to do a little 'politicking.' In RHC, White House staffers chose an appropriate location for President Bush to hawk the benefits of foreign trade since Robinson Helicopters sells 70 percent of its production overseas. A point hammered home by the President.

"You can't tell the people at Robinson Helicopter that trade isn't good," Bush said Wednesday. "When 70% of that which you manufacture gets sold somewhere else other than the United States, they ought to have a sign walking in here and say, 'Trade is not only good, it is great; and we want the federal government to make it easier for us to sell products.'"

Better yet, work continues on Frank's next design... the Rolls Royce RR300 powered turbine helicopter...a first for RHC.

Robinson Helicopter Company was founded in 1973. The first R22 was delivered in October 1979. In 1993, the R44 came online and is now the best selling helicopter in the world. The R44 is offered in two models: The Raven I and the more powerful Raven II. The Raven II is available in four specialty configurations: Police Helicopter, Newscopter, Clipper, and IFR Trainer. ...

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News & Politics

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• aero-news
• aero-tv
• aerospace
• aircraft
• airline
• airplane
• airport
• aviation
• faa
• pilot
• plane
• r22
• r44
• r66
• robinson
• rotorcraft

[greg8698]

It's not easy to do to design a larger utility helicopter? Well it seems both Bell and American Eurocopter have not have had a problem several models. The truth is you don't want to spend the money to do so like they do which will always make you nothing more than a personal helicopter pioneer. If you really know how to develop one, let's cut the crap and see you do it. Until then, after you die so will your little helicopter company.

[greg8698]

Oh, yea, Frank keep blowing wind up everyone's asses. You know for a fact that the R-44/66 is nothing more than a crash machine. Everyone who takes lessons in an R-22/R-44 knows it is only a matter of time. As for me, I would rather fly a Bell or a Eurocopter. As for my training if I was still at that point, I would fly a Schweitzer any day over an R-22 or a R-44. The prime reason is because your cyclic sucks!!!!!!!!

[greg8698]

#1 helicopters to crash as well.

[emforty2]

Frank R. is a hero a modern day pioneer

Worlds #1 Selling helicopters PERIOD !

the downturn is normal and temporary the R66 is READY when the economy is

they are in the best position to succeed with the new R66

[GottaMotoTwice]

The End Of 08 And The Begining Of 09 Has'nt Been Good For Robinson. From No More Orders Of The R-22 To Hundreds Of Layoffs And The Slow Down Of R-44 Production. At The End Of 07 They Would Push 25 R-44's In A Week, Now They Only Push About 12 A Week. He Is Not Making Money Hand Over Fist. So Now His Employees Are Losing Their Jobs. Sucks For Them.