Frank Robinson, founder of Robinson Helicopter Company, died last Saturday at the age of 92.
He will be remembered for designing a range of helicopters known for reliability and simplicity, which include the two-seat R22, four-seat R44 and the turbine R66.
Robinson started his career in the aviation industry in the 1950s as an engineer including stints at Cessna and Hughes. His passion had been helicopters since he saw an image of Igor Sikorsky hovering in 1939, and formed an idea for a simple personal helicopter.
In 1973, at age 43, Robinson found he couldn't interest any of his employers in the idea and resigned from his job at Hughes to found Robinson Helicopter Company working from his home in Palos Verdes, California.
Six years later, defying critics and overcoming enormous obstacles, Robinson was granted FAA certification for his two-place, piston powered R22 helicopter. The unknown helicopter company delivered its first production R22 in October 1979.
Since then, Robinson Helicopter has delivered over 13,000 aircraft and is run by Frank Robinson's son, Kurt, with the founder retiring from the company in 2010, aged 80.
Today, the global helicopter community is mourning a man who was known for his imagination, spirit and vision for a simpler, more versatile range of helicopters.