Robinson Helicopter recently delivered a R44 (S/N 13217), a milestone event in the company’s history as it was the 10000^th helicopter to come off its production line.

Fittingly, a celebration was held at the Torrance factory which was attended by company employees along with representatives from the city, the FAA and many of Robinson vendors.

Frank Robinson, the company’s founder, spoke briefly to a packed room about the company’s humble beginnings.

The company was founded in 1973 and the first Robinson helicopter was delivered in 1979. Today, Robinson Helicopter manufacturers more civilian helicopters than any other helicopter manufacturer in the world.

He described the leaner times noting that, unlike other helicopter manufacturers, Robinson had never received a dime of government money nor relied on government contracts.

Kurt Robinson, the company’s president, also spoke thanking employees for making “What we believe are the highest quality helicopters in the world”. Robinson noted that, based on statistics provided by the AIA (Aerospace Industries Association), Robinson had, since the early 1980s, produced more civil helicopters than all other US manufacturers combined.

The company’s current production rate is ten helicopters per week and Robinson predicts the company’s total aircraft production for 2011 will be more than double that of 2010.

The keys to the 10000^th helicopter were presented to Robinsons Brazilian dealer, Audi Helicopters. Audi has been a Robinson dealer for 25 years and is one of two Robinson dealers in Brazil. Foreign orders have consistently represented more than 50% of the company’s sales.

Meanwhile, another Robinson-orientated celebration was held in South Africa when local agent, National Airways Corporation, celebrated its 21^st year of association with the helicopter manufacturer. In recognition of this fact, Frank Robinson had this to say: “National Airways Corporation became a Robinson dealer in 1990 and was instrumental in bringing Robinson helicopters to South Africa. One of the first appointed dealers in the region, NAC took delivery of its first R22 in late 1990.

“Twenty one years later, NAC has proven to be an integral member of the Robinson dealer network. We congratulate NAC for a job well done and we look forward to along and prosperous association.”

NAC has successfully delivered over 275 Robinson Helicopters including the R22 Beta, Beta 11,R44 Astro,Raven 1 and Raven 11, as well as the recently certified turbine-powered R66.Deliveries have also been made to other countries in Africa such as Rwanda, Namibia and Botswana, to name but a few.

First Batch of Mi-17v-5 “Copters for India

The first batch of Mi-17V-5 helicopters has been delivered to India under the contract signed by Rosoboronexport, JSC in December 2008 during the visit to India of Russian president, Dimitry Medvedev.

The helicopters are manufactured by Kazan Helicopters, a subsidiary of the Russian Helicopters holding company.

India is considered Russia’s strategic partner in development and delivery of rotor craft for defense purpose, as well as state and private operators.

Joint Russian-Indian projects to deliver new helicopters, spares, and aviation equipment are under way. As of the end of 2011, the Indian Air Force operates over 200 Russian-built Mi-8/17 type medium rotor craft.

The Mi-17V-5 is the most up-to-date modification of the Mi-17.

The helicopters being delivered are manufactured to the customer’s specification and are unique in their configuration.

Each helicopter is equipped with a KNEI-8 avionics suite. It replaces a number of systems indicators, resulting in a very clear and intuitive cockpit with four large multi-functional displays that are easy to read and help reduce pilot fatigue.

This avionics suite also helps cut down pre-flight inspection time, displaying all systems data and alerting crew when necessary.

At the time of writing, Kazan Helicopters and Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, also a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters, had both delivered over 11000 rotor craft of the Mi-8/17 family to 110 countries worldwide.

Helicopter manufacturers are striving to be innovative and creative by ensuring they modify the products to meet the new technological advancement and the operator’s standards. Helicopters have become of essential in search and rescue missions, air ambulance on islands, coastal regions, forests, rivers, Lakes Mountains, hills and areas that have no airstrips and with poor road infrastructure. Helicopters are ideal in humanitarian aid charter flights, relief supplies charter flights, aerial survey & mapping charter flights, filming charter flights, scenic charter flights and sigh seeing charter flights and not forgetting air cargo charter flights.

Anthony Juma is the Editor and Senior Aviation Director at Wings Over Africa Aviation Limited. <br><a href='http://www.wingsoverafrica-aviation.com’> This is an Air Charter Company that specializes on Private Charter Helicopter Flights| Helicopter Humanitarian Charter Flights Aerial Survey & Mapping| Search & Rescue Mission Flights | Flights Filming Charter Flights and Air News On, Robinson Helicopters & MI-17V-5 Helicopters For India. into Kenya. </a> The website has guided thousands of travelers to achieve their dream holiday. For more information and guidance, visit the site at http://www.wingsoverafrica-aviation.com/index.php/services/helicopter-safaris.html</a>