Rotorcraft industry icon Frank Robinson launched the personal helicopter industry, starting with the piston-powered R22. [Courtesy: Robinson Helicopter Company]
Key Takeaways:
Frank Robinson, founder of Robinson Helicopter Company and designer of the R22, R44, and R66 helicopters, passed away at 92 after a long illness.
He founded the company in 1973 to develop personal rotorcraft that could be operated at a reasonable cost, achieving his vision with highly successful models.
Robinson's pioneering efforts made rotorcraft flight accessible to the public, establishing him as an industry icon whose company has delivered over 13,000 light rotorcraft globally.
He received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career for his significant contributions to aviation engineering and rotorcraft design and safety.
Frank Robinson, the engineer and rotorcraft pilot who founded Robinson Helicopter Company and created the R22, R44, and R66, has hovered into the sunset. Robinson, 92, passed away peacefully at his home in Rolling Hills, California, on November 12, after a long illness.
The company announced the pioneer’s death in a statement released on Sunday.
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