|
June 1973 |
Company
founded by Frank Robinson to design and manufacture a light,
inexpensive helicopter for the general aviation market. |
|
August
1975 |
First
flight of two-seat model R22 prototype at
Torrance
Airport . |
|
March 1979
|
Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) issues type certificate for
R22; Robinson announces R22 base price of $40,000.
|
|
October
1979 |
First
production R22 helicopter is delivered; Robinson announces
order backlog of 587 orders. |
|
January
1981 |
100th
R22 helicopter is delivered. |
|
March 1981
|
Robinson receives FAA Production Certificate allowing the
company to do its own testing and inspection.
|
|
September
1981 |
Model
R22 HP is announced with more powerful engine, improved
altitude performance, and a base price of $59,850.
|
|
October
1982 |
Safety
course for flight instructors is launched to standardize
training at flight schools, where R22s are widely used.
|
|
September
1983 |
Model
R22 Alpha is announced with increased gross weight and a
base price of $77,850. |
|
January
1985 |
Auxiliary fuel system is approved for R22 Alpha model,
increasing range and endurance by 65%.
|
|
July 1985
|
500th
R22 helicopter is delivered. |
|
August
1985 |
Model
R22 Beta is introduced with higher take-off rating, larger
instrument panel, and base price if $85,850.
|
|
October
1985 |
Model
R22 Mariner is approved with fixed utility floats, priced at
$94,850; R22 sets world record for Distance in a Close
Circuit for Class E-1a helicopters. |
|
December
1988 |
Robinson becomes leading producer of light helicopters,
producing more new helicopters in 1988 than any other
manufacturer. |
|
January
1989 |
R22
sets world altitude record for Class E-1a helicopters.
|
|
April 1989
|
1000th
R22 helicopter is delivered. |
|
May 1989
|
R22
breaks its own altitude record for Class E-1a helicopters.
|
|
December
1989 |
310
R22s are delivered in 1989, making it the year’s most
popular light Aircraft – including helicopters
and airplanes.
|
|
February
1990 |
New RPM
governor is approved for R22. |
|
January
1991 |
New
Model R44 four-seat helicopter is exhibited for the first
time; FAA certification is expected in 1992.
|
|
June 1991
|
R22
breaks its own speed records reaching a top speed of 143.61
mph; Robinson receives Igor I. Sikorsky Trophy recognizing
world records. |
|
November
1991 |
2000th
R22 helicopter is delivered. |
|
December
1991 |
Robinson production rate reaches all-time high with 402 R22s
produced in 1991. |
|
March 1992
|
R44
base price of $235,000 is announced; deposits and orders are
accepted. |
|
December
1992 |
FAA
issues Type Certificate for R44 Astro; R22 is world’s
top-selling helicopter for the fifth consecutive year.
|
|
January
1993 |
Buenos
Aires Police purchase forty R22 helicopters.
|
|
February
1993 |
First
production R44 Astro helicopter is delivered.
|
|
July 1994
|
Robinson moves to new 260,000 square-foot manufacturing
facility. |
|
February
1996 |
Model
R22 Beta II is introduced with O-360 engine, giving it
improved hover performance, and a base price of $135,000.
|
|
June 1997
|
R44
Newscopter announced for high-quality live television
broadcasting. |
|
July 1997
|
R44
Police Helicopter receives FAA certification.
|
|
August
1997 |
R44
completes around-the-world flight with pilots Jennifer
Murray and Quentin
Smith. |
|
November
1997 |
Robinson is awarded ISO 9001 certification for helicopter
design,
manufacture and service. |
|
February
1998 |
First
three R44 Newscopters are delivered. |
|
June 1999
|
FAA
approves pop-out floats for R44 Clipper.
|
|
August
1999 |
Hydraulic power controls are introduced for the R44
helicopters. |
|
October
1999 |
3000th
R22 helicopter is delivered. |
|
January
2000 |
Model
R44 Raven is introduced with adjustable pedals and standard
hydraulic controls; TBO for R22 and R44 is increased from
2000 to 2200 hours. |
|
September
2000 |
4000th
Robinson helicopter delivered – 3,132 R22s and 868 R44s;
Jennifer Murray pilots her R44 helicopter, becoming the
first woman to fly solo around the world.
|
|
February
2001 |
1000th
R44 helicopter is delivered; Robinson launches new program
for lightweight roof-top helipads for business and
industrial parks. |
|
January
2002 |
R44
becomes the first US manufactured helicopter approved by
Russia and
other states of the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS). |
|
June 2002
|
Robinson delivers the first digital ENG Newscopter to Metro
Networks; the first R44 Police Helicopter is
delivered to
China . |
|
July 2002
|
Robinson announces the new R44 Raven II; the new helicopter
has more power, a higher gross weight, and
increased altitude performance. |
|
October
2002 |
R44
Raven II is the first piston helicopter to fly to the North
Pole, piloted by Quentin Smith and Steve Brooks.
|
|
November
2002 |
Robinson is the first
US helicopter manufacturer to
receive Japanese type certification.
|
|
June 2003
|
First
Robinson helipad opened at a private helistop at Honda of
Santa Ana, CA. |
|
September
2003 |
5,000th helicopter delivered. |
|
January
2004 |
Robinson announces company sales record with the production
of 422 new helicopters in 2003.
|
|
January
2005 |
Robinson surpasses previous sales with 690 new helicopters
produced in 2004; R44 Raven II is the first piston
helicopter to fly to the South Pole, piloted by Quentin
Smith and Steve Brooks. |
|
February
2005 |
New
manufacturing facility opened which added 220,000 square
feet to Robinson, totaling 480,000 square feet.
|
|
April 2005 |
6,000th
helicopter delivered. |
|
January
2006 |
4000th
R22 helicopter manufactured:
Robinson produces 806 new helicopters, sets production
record for civil helicopters.
|
|
September
2006 |
3000th
R44 helicopter delivered. |
|
March
2007 |
Robinson
announces development of the five-place R66 turbine
helicopter. |
|
November
2007 |
8000th
helicopter delivered. |
|
January
2008 |
Robinson
breaks previous production record for civil helicopters with
823 new helicopters. |