Groen Brothers Aviation, Inc. (GBA) (OTC BB: GNBA) announced today that Mr. Rob Dubin is a recipient of their “Pioneers of Vertical Flight” award. The presentation will be made at an upcoming awards ceremony during the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Copperstate Fly-In, held at the Casa Grande Municipal Airport near Phoenix, AZ. The award is presented in recognition of Rob’s accomplishment of being the first person to fly a gyroplane in consecutive flights through all 48 of the continental United States. Rob’s seven month long journey began on February 25th in Phoenix, AZ. He completed his ambitious voyage, flying a circuitous route around the country that brought him earlier this week to St. George, Utah.
Flying SparrowHawk and SparrowHawk prototype gyroplanes designed by GBA’s American Autogyro, Rob enjoyed seeing the United States from a bird’s eye view. Rob flew over 10,000 miles at an average speed of 55 mph and stopped at more than 140 airports along the way. He provided ground bound friends and supporters the opportunity to follow along with flight updates and pictures from the cockpit on his website at www.gyroamerica.com. Rob wasn’t alone in his “GyroAmerica” endeavor. His wife Dee accompanied him on the ground, driving a motorhome with SUV in tow, meeting Rob in the evenings at small airports along their route. Their journey was purposefully easy going and slow, traveling only every third or fourth day with off days spent exploring local areas.
“The gyroplane is the ideal choice for a journey like this,” said Dubin. “Its unique design gives it the ability to fly low and slow if desired, and do so safely. The SparrowHawk was perfect for enjoying an aerial view of the beauty this country affords.”
“Groen Brothers Aviation salutes Rob Dubin for his courage, adventuresome spirit, and this remarkable accomplishment,” said David Groen, President and CEO. “We’ve followed his progress throughout his flight and are very pleased and proud to honor him with this award.”
About Groen Brothers Aviation, Inc.
Groen Brothers Aviation, Inc. has developed the first commercially viable modern gyroplane, the “Hawk 4.” The gyroplane is a hybrid aircraft with the low operating cost of an airplane and the off-runway operating capability of a helicopter. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Groen Brothers Aviation USA, Inc., the Company has also developed and is currently selling a smaller kit gyroplane, the “SparrowHawk,” to meet the growing demands of the home-built gyroplane kit market, and to provide a safe, economical airborne patrol vehicle for law enforcement and other government applications. The Company continues to develop a nationwide dealership network for the sale of these products.
The Company is also offering its proprietary technology to develop large compound rotorcraft capable of vertical take-off with ultra-heavy payloads and substantial range. Applications for this technology include land and sea-based heavy-lift military freighters, an aerial fire-fighting vehicle and a runway-independent commercial airliner. Further information about the Company, its products, and individual members of “GBA Team Hawk” is available on the Company’s web site at: www.gbagyros.com.
