Frank Robinson retired

[John Eacott]

According to the Robinson Helicopters press release, (http://www.robinsonheli.com/prpress.htm) Frank has finally retired. Good Luck :ok:

13 August 2010.
Frank Robinson, President and Chairman of Robinson Helicopter Co., Retires
Torrance, CA—Frank Robinson, founder of Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC), officially announced on August 10, 2010 that he has resigned as President and Chairman of the Board.

Robinson intended to retire on his 80th birthday in January, 2010 but elected to postpone his retirement until the design of the R66 Turbine was complete. With R66 production underway and FAA certification imminent, Robinson decided to make his retirement official. Kurt Robinson was elected by the Board of Directors to assume the positions of President and Chairman on August 10, 2010.

RHC’s upper management team remains in place and the Company does not anticipate any significant changes. Frank Robinson founded the Torrance, California company in 1973 and without question has been the driving force behind its success. Robinson Helicopter currently manufactures more civilian helicopters than any other helicopter manufacturer in the world. Kurt Robinson, who started at the Company in 1987, stated that “while there is no one person that can replace Frank, we have a very strong team of managers that have been with the Company for more than 20 years. We are looking forward to a smooth transition and an exciting future.”

[topendtorque]

This is unbelievable news for two reasons,

firstly John Eacott has the franchise on it even before our fabled ABC over here and we all know that even the pollies here read the ABC to find out what is happening,

but also to see the actual event of Franks retirement taking place that we all thought would never happen.

I have to say all the very best for Frank, and whilst his machinery has now and then given me a few frights, and is perhaps not the most comfortable to drive around, It has made me a lot of money, it is functional, and practical if not pragmatic of opinion when pushed. perhaps that's an indicator of the inventor, like dogs are of their masters and vise versa.

Over here we use the word Bastard as a term of endearment or abuse, just depending on our mood. I would say Frank you old bastard, come over here and fly with us in your retirement, we'd be delighted to extend our hospitality to you.

cheers tet

[riff_raff]

Frank Robinson was a very rare commodity. He was a good engineer and a good businessman. We won't soon see another like him in the aerospace industry. He started with literally nothing and built his company on his own through sheer determination and hard work.

Hope you have a long and happy retirement Frank!

[22clipper]

The man who built helicopters for the rest of us. I picked up a well used R22 for $70k in '96 & wangled nine wondrous years & a thousand hours out of it, VH-JNM gone but not forgotten. Wonder what the old boy will do with his retirement years?

[Graviman]

I sincerely hope Frank Robinson enjoys his retirement as much as many of us have enjoyed flying his designs. :ok:

[helihub]

Like or loathe the R22/R44 (and there are more than a few of you on this forum!), I suggest the civilian helicopter industry would be significantly poorer had it not been for Frank Robinson. Think of the thousands of private pilots who would never have even entered our industry.... Let alone the ones who upgraded to turbines, etc...

Thank you, Frank, for making our industry what it is

http://www.helihub.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/robinson-frank2-300x300.jpg