History

In 1957, Stanley Lynn loaded his homemade deflector prototype into the family station wagon and drove to the USAF B-4 flight facilities at LAX. The Lynnco Type E becomes the U.S. military standard.

The Blast Deflector Division of Lynn Engineering Co. was established in San Francisco.

BDI’s newly-launched Lynnco Type E jet blast deflector, originally developed for Douglas Aircraft for the F4D-1 Skyray, is widely deployed at USAF bases. This design was subsequently awarded a patent.

BDI develops new jet blast deflector designs, including models for the testing of Boeing’s 377 Stratocruiser.

Blast Deflectors, Inc. enters the commercial aviation industry.

BDI’s commercial aviation business grows. The aircraft featured in this photograph is the Pan Am Clipper Defiance, which flew The Beatles to the USA for the first time on February 7, 1964.

BDI continues to develop innovative designs, including for the KC-135.

Construction of the new Melbourne Tullamarine Airport in Australia is completed, and Qantas V-Jet aircraft arrive for service. The layout of the airport features BDI deflectors, making MEL one of BDI’s first international projects.

The National Airlines maintenance facility at Miami International Airport become one of BDI’s first customers for the CVX35 deflector, which is 35ft (10m) tall.

BDI develops a new jet blast deflector model for the supersonic B-1B heavy bomber.

BDI develops new jet blast deflectors for the Boeing B747-400 program. Proof testing included a water spray demonstration.

BDI launches the first state-of-the-art ground run-up enclosure design, the Stabile Flow GRE. This patented design was first installed at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

BDI moves from the Golden State (California) to the Silver State (Nevada) and proudly calls Reno, Nevada home to this day.

BDI continues developing cutting-edge GRE designs, and is awarded a patent for the VertiVent, a unique jet blast deflector that provides unprecedented aerodynamic usability, even in tail wind conditions. This design has become the basis of BDI’s next generation of GREs.

BDI celebrates 60 years of aviation innovation with industry partners, staff, and former colleagues.

BDI concludes the installation and highly-successful testing of a 4-sided run-up enclosure for Airbus at their Hamburg Finkenwerder facility .

The world’s largest 4-sided, roofless engine test facility is completed by BDI for Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge, United Kingdom.