News Release | Archived News Releases | Hawk's Nest News | Archived Hawk's Nest | Technology Articles

Thank you for your interest in Groen Brothers Aviation, Inc. (GBA) and our aircraft.  Welcome to Issue #46 of our web site update column.  You can be automatically notified of new issues of Hawk’s Nest, News Releases and web site updates by clicking here on “Contact Us” and following the easy directions. We invite you to enjoy the many informational aspects of our comprehensive web site.

DARPA/GBA HELIPLANE FOCUS OF ROTOR & WING MAGAZINE ARTICLE
The DARPA/GBA Heliplane project continues to attract the attention of the aviation media.  A recent article in Rotor & Wing magazine, “One Step Beyond,” states that “U.S, researchers are banking on a long-neglected rotorcraft technology as the best bet for overcoming the practical helicopter speed limit under 200kt.” The article refers to the technology of the Fairey Rotodyne from the 1950’s, a gyrodyne which set world speed records for rotary aircraft.  Performance goals for the Heliplane include a top speed of 350kt (400 mph), a 1,000 lb useful load with a range of 1,000 nautical miles (1,152 miles). “We have taken a 40-year-old concept and revived it,” said DARPA Heliplane program manager, Don Woodbury.  To read the complete article, please click here on “One Step Beyond.”

The GBA contract with DARPA is based upon the “gyrodyne” concept, proven for practical use by the Rotodyne, long espoused by GBA and extensively researched by Georgia Tech.  A gyrodyne is similar in appearance to a winged helicopter, and like a helicopter is capable of hovering and vertical takeoff and landing.  Unlike a helicopter, however, a gyrodyne’s rotor is driven by rotor blade reaction drives and are powered only during hover, takeoff and landing.  During forward flight, like a gyroplane, the rotor is not powered, with forward thrust being provided by engines typical of an airplane.  This use of reaction drives for rotor power and main engines for forward thrust eliminates the need for much of the cost, weight, and complexity found in helicopters, while permitting much higher forward speeds.

In a separate article titled “Turning Point,” Rotor & Wing Editor James T. McKenna states “We’ve eked better and better performance out of successive generations of helicopter, but in an evolutionary manner.  That begs two questions: how much more evolution can we extract from the basic helicopter, and is that the best we can do?”  Mr. McKenna goes on to say “The mission requirements of the very near future, driven logically by the U.S. military, demand the ability to lift and land loads vertically and to transverse the space between takeoff and the load’s destination much faster than helicopters can.  These demands, combined with the limits of conventional helicopter technology, are bringing this industry to a crossroads.  There we will decide whether we continue tweaking what we have today or invest in the R&D that can lead us down the path to a new aircraft that is not a helicopter, not even a straightforward rotorcraft, but a vertical-lift platform.”  We at GBA believe our gyroplane and gyrodyne technology, elegantly simple in its comparative technology and immensely cost effective in its application, can provide the solution.  To read the complete article, please click on Turning Point.

Please click on the following for more information on “GBA’s Gyrodyne Technology,” “Commercial Gyrodyne Applications,” “Military Gyrodyne Applications” and the “Fairey Rotodyne.”

AMERICAN AUTOGYRO SPARROWHAWK UPDATE
For the second year in a row, American Autogyro was invited to participate in flight demonstrations held in Maryland for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).  The event gave ample opportunity for representatives and pilots from the DOJ, Homeland Security and many local Law Enforcement agencies to experience what an excellent platform the SparrowHawk Gyroplane is in providing a safe, economic aerial patrol vehicle for a myriad of law enforcement related surveillance applications.

In addition to providing invaluable assistance in our efforts at both the PRA’s (Popular Rotorcraft Association) Bensen Days Fly-in and the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-in earlier this year, Randy Stiles, owner of American Autogyro of Atlanta, GA, is keeping busy attending local events.  WMAZ TV out of Macon featured Randy and his SparrowHawk at a recent Baldwin County Airport fly-in.

American Autogyro Sales Representative Mark Goroff flew his SparrowHawk into the San Carlos, CA airport and exhibited at this year’s Hiller Aviation Museum Vertical Challenge.  A steady crowd around the SparrowHawk gave ample opportunity for attendees to learn about gyroplanes in general and the advantages which the SparrowHawk offers.

If you’re one of the lucky aviation aficionados heading for Oshkosh, WI for the EAA (Experimental Aviation Association) AirVenture event, we invite you to visit us in Exhibit Booth 47 in the General Aircraft Display area.  As we do every year, we’ll also be attending the PRA International Fly-in at the Mentone, IN airport.  This year’s event is scheduled for August 1 – 5.  For more information about these events, click here on “EAA AirVenture” and “PRA Mentone.”

TAKING STOCK OF GBA
Groen Brothers Aviation, Inc. is a fully reporting, publicly traded corporation, listed on the OTC Bulletin Board as "GNBA" at any Stock Brokerage Company.  Investment information including stock reports, Market Makers and SEC annual and quarterly reports are accessible through our GBA web site by clicking on "Investment Relations.”