verification . please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . unsourced material may be challenged and removed . february 2008 learn how and when to remove this template message rotorway international type privately owned company industry helicopters aviation engineering manufacturing founded 1961 founder b.j. schramm headquarters chandler arizona united states number of locations 11 worldwide key people grant norwitz ceo mark porter coo lynda wishart cfo products kit helicopters number of employees 250 parent rotorway aviation website http www.rotorway.com rotorway international located in chandler arizona is a manufacturer of kit helicopters . the company was founded by b.j. schramm in 1961 as rotorway aircraft . rotorway international was bought february 14 2007 by a small group of investors comprising the company s upper level management grant norwitz ceo bill adams coo and judy craven cfo . of these only norwitz was still with the company in mid 2008 . 1 by 2015 the company name had been changed to the rotorway helicopter manufacturing company . 2 contents 1 history 1.1 1960 1970 1.2 1970 1979 1.3 1980 1989 1.4 1990 present 2 business practices and expansion 3 awards and recognition 4 current models 5 see also 6 references 7 external links history edit rotorway exec 162f . rotorway exec 162f transitioning to forward flight . 1960 1970 edit in 1961 rotorway s founder b.j. schramm tested the company s first prototype the javelin . the javelin used a 40 hp 30 kw motorcycle engine and was the forerunner of rotorway s first production helicopter the scorpion which was offered in 1967 . 3 the scorpion priced at 6 300 not including the cost of the engine was the first real kit helicopter on the market that flew . the scorpion was intended for the sport flying public rather than the commercial market and this dictated the cost and weight of the aircraft . originally costs were intended to be under 10 000 but inflation changed that . the original scorpion weighed between 1200 and 1300 pounds . it featured a standard gear reduction drive a semi articulated two bladed rotor system and a one person capacity . 1970 1979 edit an improved version of the scorpion was introduced in 1971 . among the modifications in the new version were all aluminum rotor blades a 115 hp 86 kw omc 2 cycle engine evinrude vulcan v 4 outboard motor and a heavier drive system shafts and bearings . in 1971 the scorpion ii was introduced with an omc 125 hp 93 kw 2 cycle engine which provided enough power to fly two lightweight people unlike previous versions . in 1974 the company eliminated the 2 cycle engine and unable to find a manufacturer to make their 4 cycle engine suitable for the helicopter began production of their own engine . this engine called the rotorway rw133 was a 4 cycle engine that was able to provide a cruise speed of 80 mph 130 km h with a range of 120 miles 193 km and a useful load of 420 pounds . the rw 133 engine was installed in the scorpion ii which was renamed the scorpion 133 . the scorpion 133 had a list price of 13 500 a gross weight of 1 235 lb 560 kg and a range of 130 nautical miles 79 nautical miles 146 km with two people . 1980 1989 edit in 1980 rotorway introduced the rw145 engine and the exec helicopter . this was the first helicopter produced by rotorway that strived to get away from the kit helicopter look . unlike previous helicopters the exec did not have an exposed frame or exposed engine and far more attention was given to the aesthetics of the aircraft . 1982 marked the introduction of the asymmetrical rotor blade enabling the craft to climb to higher altitudes and making the blade resistant to erosion but with a risk of losing the aircraft if the engine quit . the exec helicopter was designed during the late 1980s and had a 152 hp 113 kw engine with a maximum payload of 400 pounds cruise speed of 113 mph 182 km h and maximum airspeed of 130 mph 210 km h . after selling just three exec helicopters the company succumbed to financial challenges and was purchased by a former customer john netherwood and stopped production of the exec helicopter due to design hurdles and financial constraints on the company . the rw152 engine was manufactured in 1984 . 1990 present edit in 1990 rotorway aircraft underwent reorganization and changed its name to rotorway international . the design and production of the exec series helicopters began in the early 1990s starting with the exec 90 . the exec 90 contained the ri 162 engine and unlike previous helicopter kits much of the assembly including the welding was done at the factory . the exec 90 was followed by the exec 162f in 1994 . the exec 162f with some improvements to the fadec system and the acis is still being produced and sold by rotorway . in july 2007 rotorway announced the development of the a600 talon . the a600 talon features an updated fadec system an all glass cockpit a cog belt replacing the primary drive chain and a larger landing gear among other features . in february 2009 rotorway purchased pmc machining and manufacturing a phoenix based builder of helicopter parts . the ceo of pmc mark porter became president and coo of rotorway as part of the acquisition . 4 the company also announced plans to certify a two seat turbine helicopter using the rolls royce rr300 engine and said that acquiring pmc will make that possible . 5 in july 2015 the company introduced the rotorway rw7 model . 6 business practices and expansion edit although it is the third largest helicopter manufacturer in the united states rotorway has established a factory in south africa that manufactures ready made helicopters in addition to kits . rotorway has also begun the process of expanding into the certified helicopter market and plans on making major changes including the creation of a separate engine manufacturing company . awards and recognition edit 2005 exec 162f is named oshkosh airventure grand champion . 2004 exec 162f is named oshkosh airventure gold lindy grand champion silver lindy reserve grand champion and a model wins for outstanding workmanship . 2003 exec 162f wins oshkosh airventure grand champion and reserve grand champion . 2002 exec 162f wins oshkosh airventure reserve grand champion and for outstanding workmanship . 2001 exec 162f wins oshkosh airventure reserve grand champion champion and outstanding workmanship . 2000 hai aviation repair specialist award for work done on the fadec system . 1999 finalist for the flight international s aerospace industry awards in the category of corporate and general aviation . rotorway exc 162 was featured on discovery channel show a chopper is born . current models edit rotorway a600 talon rotorway eagle 300t see also edit homebuilt aircraft references edit executive bios . retrieved 2009 02 22 . rotorway helicopter manufacturing company contact us . rotorway.com . retrieved 27 january 2016 . perter lert august 1989 . executive privilege . air progress . acquisition moves rotorway toward certification press release . aopa . 2009 02 23 . retrieved 2009 02 23 . rotorway launches two place turbine trainer . 2009 02 23 . retrieved 2009 02 23 . rotorway helicopter manufacturing company new helicopter rotorway introduces the rw7 . rotorway.com . retrieved 27 january 2016 . external links edit wikimedia commons has media related to rotorway international . rotorway international v t e rotorway international aircraft helicopters 300t eagle a600 talon elite exec rw7 scorpion windstar retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title rotorway international & oldid 727574863 categories companies based in chandler arizonaemployee owned companies of the united stateshelicopter manufacturers of the united stateshidden categories articles needing additional references from february 2008all articles needing additional referencespages using infobox company with unsupported parameterscommons category with local link same as on wikidata 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