Frank Robinson Gone West

[RyanB]

The founder of Robinson Helicopter Company has flown west. Article below -

https://verticalmag.com/press-releases/helicopter-pioneer-frank-robinson-passes/?amp

 

[SoonerAviator]

Robinson is a great success story. Tried to get his employers to build a cheaper, personal helicopter but Bell and Hughes wanted no part of it. So in a few years he made an FAA-certified model and spurred an entire market segment. Quite the pioneer.

 

[Bell206]

Robinson is a great success story.

And he was one the few of his stature that remained humble throughout his career and would sit down with anyone to talk shop. Even with someone who was not a "fan" of the design. He actually cut his helicopter teeth on the Cessna Skyhook which looked like a Cessna 140 with rotor blades and bubble windows. Definitely on the same level as Sikorsky, Focke, and Young.