Robinson Factory Tour
Robinson's factory builds high-tech helicopters the old fashioned way, with skill, experience and a lot of hard work.

By Robert Goyer
Photographed by Robert Goyer
April 2009

Click here to tour the Robinson Factory

Robinson Helicopter has been building its piston-powered helicopters in Torrance, California, for decades. Because they build so many of the parts that go into their aircraft, as opposed to most manufacturers who contract out many subassemblies, Robinson employs a lot of workers and uses a lot of factory floor space. The result is a busy workplace with the sound of riveters everywhere. It's the way aircraft factories used to sound everywhere.

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