Frank Talks About The Future of The R44, Helo Training, The Silver State Fiasco, And More! 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 ...
