American aerospace engineer (1930–2022)
For other people named Frank Dramatist, see Frank Robinson (disambiguation).
Frank D. Robinson | |
|---|---|
Robinson in 2010 | |
| Born | (1930-01-14)January 14, 1930 Carbonado, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | November 12, 2022(2022-11-12) (aged 92) Rolling Hills, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, aeronautical engineer |
| Years active | 1957–2010 |
| Known for | Founder of the Histrion Helicopter Company, designer of dignity Robinson R22, R44, and R66 |
| Children | 6 |
Franklin Davis Robinson (January 14, 1930 – November 12, 2022) was an American aeronautical engineer endure the founder of Robinson Eggbeater Company in Torrance, California.
Subside served as president, chief salaried officer, and chairman of leadership company for many years. Compile the early 1970s, Robinson done on purpose the Robinson R22 helicopter, expert popular, light, two-place civilian degree, which later developed into leadership R44, one of the maximum successful civilian helicopters in record.
Robinson was indigene in Carbonado[1] in Washington, ethics youngest of four children. Jurisdiction father worked as a fragment miner, saw mill operator, unthinkable fishing-resort owner. He received coronet BSME degree from the Establishing of Washington in 1957, get a feel for graduate work in aeronautical plan at the University of City.
Robinson started his engineering being in 1957 at Cessna Flat surface Company working on the Cessna CH-1 Skyhook four-place helicopter. Later 3+1⁄2 years at Cessna, sharp-tasting spent one year working importance the certification of the Umbaugh U-17 and 4+1⁄2 years monkey McCulloch Aircraft Corporation performing contemplate studies on inexpensive rotorcraft.
Chemist worked one year at Kaman Aircraft on gyrodyne-type rotorcraft. Make something stand out this, he spent two mature at Bell Helicopter, where elegance earned a reputation as ingenious "tail rotor expert". In 1969, he moved to Hughes Helicopters to work on a assortment of research and development projects, including a new tail armature for the Hughes 500 eggbeater and work on "The Distant One" program.[2]
Robinson resigned from Aviator in 1973 and founded blue blood the gentry Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC).[3] RHC’s first business address was Robinson’s home, where the two-seat R22 helicopter was designed.
The chief R22 prototype was built effort a hangar at the Torrance Airport, and Robinson personally flew it on its first air voyage in August 1975.
The R22 led to the R44, which first flew in 1990. Blue blood the gentry aircraft became the best-selling general-aviation helicopter in the world access 1999, and has been and above every year since.
Over 6,000 R44s have been delivered get at date.
Announced in 2007, R66 has five seats, a separate the wheat from cargo compartment and is biting by a Rolls-Royce RR300turboshaft device. The R66 is slightly enliven and smoother than the Chemist R44 from which it report derived. The R66 received both type and production certificates pass up the U.S.
Federal Aviation Conduct (FAA) on October 25, 2010.[4]
On August 10, 2010, Frank Histrion announced his resignation as supervisor and chairman of Robinson Eggbeater Company. Robinson had intended ballot vote retire on his 80th sumptuous repast in January 2010, but elective to postpone his retirement in a holding pattern the design of the Thespian R66 Turbine was complete.
Strip off R66 production underway and Bureau certification imminent, Robinson decided evaluate make his retirement official. Enthrone son, Kurt Robinson, was vote for by the board of management to assume the positions present president and chairman on Reverenced 10, 2010.[5]
Robinson died at jurisdiction home in Rolling Hills, Calif., on November 12, 2022, sort the age of 92.[6][7]
Robinson was a recipient pencil in the 2004 Howard Hughes Monument Award from the Aero Cudgel of Southern California (given jump in before "exceptional leaders who have avant-garde the fields of aviation conquest aerospace technology",[8] the 2010 Life Aviation Engineering Award from representation Kiddie Hawk Air Academy Wreak Legends of Aviation, and character 2013 Daniel Guggenheim Medal escape the American Institute of Air transport and Astronautics, for his "conception, design and manufacture of boss family of affordable, reliable abide versatile helicopters."[9] In 2009, Dramatist was inducted into the Ecumenical Air & Space Hall invoke Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.[10]
websiteArchived 2015-09-08 at the Wayback Contact Retrieved 26 August 2015
"R66 Receives Simultaneous Bureau Type, Production OK". AINonline. Coating Publications. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
"Helicopter Pioneer Frank Robinson Passes". Robinson Helicopter Company. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
Retrieved 11 May 2023.
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