Thu, Oct 12, 2006
Chairman Of Groen Bros. Aviation
Aero-News learned this week that Jay Groen, chairman of Groen
Brothers Aviation, passed away the morning of October 9 after
fighting cancer for almost two years.
Jay Groen served in the US Air Force and spent a year at Yale
University learning Chinese to be a linguist for his two-year term
in Vietnam. Jay received a BS in economics from the University of
Utah, and an MS in economics from Virginia Tech.
After earning his degrees, he worked for 10 years as an expert
on the Chinese economy with the CIA. He left the government to
become an entrepreneur in several endeavors.
In the early 1980s, Jay and David were partners in Seagull
Recycling. They also collaborated on the bestselling novel "Huey"
about a helicopter pilot's experiences in Vietnam, before founding
GBA in 1986.
"Jay's passing leaves a void within us all, but at the same time
furthers our resolve to succeed in this endeavor to celebrate his
dedication, devotion and persistence," said David Groen.
Friends described Jay as "a true renaissance man," adding Groen
was an inventor, writer, business man, and entrepreneur.
Groen Brothers Aviation, Inc. (GBA) is recognized as the world's
leading authority on autorotative flight. GBA developed the world's
first commercially viable modern gyroplane -- the first "autogiro"
to utilize a jet engine -- the Hawk 4 Gyroplane powered by a
Rolls-Royce gas turbine engine. The Hawk 4 (shown above) was used
extensively for security aerial patrol missions during the 2002
Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
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