Robinson Helicopters sales increased to nearly 80 percent of all commercial piston and turbine rotorcraft produced in North America during the first half of this year. According to production figures, during the period Robinson produced 343 helicopters, a 54-percent increase over the same period last year. Of those, 115 were R22s and 228 were R44s.

Last year Robinson sold 422 helicopters, at the time the biggest output in the company’s 30-year history. Company president Frank Robinson said, “We are on track to break our own record.”

Robinson currently produces 15 helicopters per week. The company has increased its workforce to nearly 1,100 and is expanding into a newly completed 215,000-sq-ft factory, a move that will nearly double its manufacturing floor space. Once in place, Robinson plans to increase production even further to reduce the order backlog from its current five months for both types.