Robinson Helicopter Celebrates 50th Anniversary of R22 First Flight | Aviation International News

Robinson Helicopter Celebrates R22 50th Anniversary

Founder’s basement project spawned one of the most prolific helicopter manufacturers

Frank Robinson, founder of Robinson Helicopter — Frank Robinson, founder of Robinson Helicopter Company, in the R22

By Matt Thurber • Editor-in-Chief

August 28, 2025

Fifty years ago, on Aug. 28, 1975, Frank Robinson pulled collective and lifted off in his R22 helicopter for the first time, from a ramp at Zamperini Field in Torrance, California.

The R22 was the culmination of Robinson’s dream of designing and building his own helicopter, after having worked as an engineer at Cessna Aircraft (on its Skyhook helicopter), Umbaugh, McCulloch Aircraft, Kaman Aircraft, Bell Helicopter, and Hughes Helicopters. In 1973, Robinson resigned from Hughes, mortgaged his house to raise money, and founded Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) to bring a “safe, reliable, affordable” new helicopter to market.

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