Industry stalwart Larry Flynn, whose career spanned more than four decades and culminated in his role as president of Gulfstream Aerospace and v-p of parent General Dynamics, died yesterday after a battle with cancer. He was 71.
Flynn retired from his full-time role with the Savannah, Georgia manufacturer in 2015 for health reasons but he remained on boards of companies including Duncan Aviation and Heads Up Technologies. And his legacy continued, including being named a Living Legend in Aviation in 2020.
“Gulfstream is saddened to hear of the passing of Larry Flynn,” said Mark Burns, who succeeded Flynn at the helm of Gulfstream. "Larry was world-renowned in the aviation space and for two decades led Gulfstream through continued success and industry leadership. He was also a dear friend and mentor to me.”
Burns added that during Flynn's tenure as president of Gulfstream, the OEM notched many accomplishments, including the launch of the G500 and G600, as well as the G650ER, all in 2014.
Born Feb. 13, 1952, Flynn had grown up in a flying family. His father, a TWA pilot for 38 years, had taught him and his two brothers to fly. “Growing up, we spent a lot of time with his friends, who were airline pilots all over the world. They would come to dinner and tell stories dating back to the DC-3 days up to the B747,” Flynn had told AIN sister publication Business Jet Traveler.
Flynn had obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in manpower management from the University of Kansas and, according to his obituary tribute, “was a diehard Jayhawk.”
His aviation business career traces into the early 1980s, when he held several roles within the FBO sector, including as v-p for Stevens Aviation, where he managed six facilities, as regional v-p and general manager for AMR Combs, and as regional v-p for Signature Flight Support.
He joined Gulfstream in 1995, holding positions of increasing responsibility, serving as senior v-p of marketing and sales, and then president of Gulfstream Product Support. He was named president of the company in 2011.
In addition to his service at Gulfstream, Flynn became involved in industry advocacy, serving on the boards of directors of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and Professional Aviation Maintenance Association, as well as the NBAA Associate Member Advisory Council.
“Larry Flynn was a staunch champion of business aviation. Larry led an Illustrious career and devoted himself to furthering the recognition of the importance of general and business aviation," said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. "GAMA is grateful for the leadership and contributions that Larry shared as a board member and a member of our Executive Committee, leading our Communications Committee. He will forever be remembered for his steadfast dedication to the industry."
He had a passion for the industry telling AIN in late 2020 that he had attended his first NBAA Convention in 1983 and then 35 of the next 37 conventions. These events, he said, served as a venue to meet hundreds of people from diverse backgrounds with shared a passion for aviation. “Folks who started as business associates, and over the years became friends. And not just people from the U.S., but from all over the world. Collectively they helped form my wealth of knowledge and perspective about the business aviation industry.”
“NBAA joins with the international aviation community in mourning the loss of Larry Flynn, former president of Gulfstream Aerospace and a tireless industry champion. Larry was an influential voice on NBAA’s Advisory Council, and a leading presence at our annual convention and other events for more than 30 years. We extend our condolences to Larry’s family and his many friends across business aviation," said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.
He is survived by his wife Sarah; daughters Kathrine Morehead and husband Ron, and Kelley Young and husband Adam; and five grandchildren and step-grandchildren.
A celebration of life is planned for 3 p.m. on April 17 at the Spanish Wells Clubhouse on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. The family requests donations be made to the West Michigan Aviation Academy or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
