Frank Robinson, Founder and President of Robinson Helicopter Company, to Speak at Embry-Riddle Commencement
Prescott, AZ, April 19, 2010
The Spring Commencement ceremony for over 270 students at Embry-Riddle’s Prescott, AZ., campus located at 3700 Willow Creek Road will be held at 10AM on Saturday, May 8, 2010 on the athletic field. The outdoor commencement will also include the commissioning of more than 50 cadets as second lieutenants from Embry-Riddle’s Air Force ROTC, Army ROTC, and Marine Platoon Leadership programs.
The guest speaker will be Frank Robinson, president and founder of Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC). Robinson began his career in 1957 at Cessna Aircraft Company working on the CH-1 Skyhook four-place helicopter. Spurred on by his strong interest in helicopter design, he earned a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington and a master’s degree from the University of Wichita.
In 1973 Robinson started Robinson Helicopter Company in his home, where he designed the two-seat R22 helicopter. The first R22 prototype was built in a small hangar at the Torrance (Calif.) Airport, and Robinson himself flew it on its inaugural flight in 1975. After more than three years of testing and technical analysis, the R22 received its FAA type certificate in 1979. The first production R22 was delivered in 1979, and the R22 soon became the world’s top-selling civil helicopter. In addition, the R22 holds most world records in its weight class, including speed and altitude.
In the mid-1980s, Robinson and his staff of engineers began development of the four-seat R44 helicopter, which he flew on its first flight in 1990. FAA certification was received in 1992, and production deliveries began in 1993. By 2007, more than 3,000 R44 helicopters had been delivered to over 70 countries, with the R44 becoming even more popular than the two-seat R22. Since 1987, RHC has produced more civil helicopters than any other manufacturer. As president and chairman of RHC, Robinson oversees a staff of approximately 1,200 production and management employees. Engineering, design, and development remain Robinson’s primary interests, and he continues to refine the R22 and R44 to enhance performance and reduce maintenance requirements. Recent improvements include the more powerful, fuel-injected R44 Raven II.
Robinson is an experienced helicopter pilot and flies his helicopters regularly for personal, business, and experimental test flying. He is a full member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and a Fellow of the American Helicopter Society. Today, Robinson is overseeing the company’s development of its first turbine helicopter, the five-place R66. The R66 made its first flight in 2007 and is currently undergoing FAA type certification.
Embry-Riddle’s Prescott campus recently selected Universal Helicopters (UHI) as the provider for its helicopter flight training program. Embry-Riddle students fly Robinson R22 and R44 aircraft in their flight-training activities.
The commencement ceremony will be followed by a reception in the Activity Center. To learn more about the ceremony, call (928) 777-3879.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 40 baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business and Engineering. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., and through the Worldwide Campus with more than 150 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada and the Middle East. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit http://www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos at YouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv.
