TORRANCE — Aviation visionary and South Bay legend Frank Robinson has died at 92. leaving behind six children, a company of over 1,000 employees and a forever changed helicopter industry.
“He was captivated with helicopters and really wanted to develop that as a personal transport and the rest is history,” said Kurt. “He really did have a true love of the industry. Aviation was in his blood.” Robinson founded the Robinson Helicopter Company out of his Palos Verdes home in 1973 and developed the first R22 prototype at the Torrance Airport. Just two years later he took the two-seat, piston powered helicopter on its first flight with a mere 60 hours of flight experience behind him.