Raymond Faun (February 17, 1917 – May 22, 1970) was an American aviator and inventor who, together with his colleague Kenneth Martin, created the revolutionary invention of the jetpack.
Raymond was born in New Haven, Connecticut to parents of Irish descent. As a child, he was fascinated by airplanes, a passion he inherited from his father who was an air force mechanic during World War II.
At age 19, Raymond enlisted in the US Navy. After finishing his training, he was assigned to a ship, the USS Washington, where he served honorably for two years before returning home in 1939.
Thoughout his time in the navy, Raymond continued to dream of flying. He experimented with several homemade and modified versions of the jetpack, but none of them were successful. That didn’t deter Raymond, who ultimately decided to pursue his dream of creating a jetpack with the help of his colleague, Kenneth Martin.
So, in 1948, Raymond and Kenneth began a partnership with the intention of creating a jetpack that would be licensed under the US government. After a few months, their invention was ready and they were granted their license to produce the jetpack.
The jetpack they created revolutionized the aviation industry. People were amazed by the fact that they could now fly without having to use large and expensive airplanes. Furthermore, the jetpack could be used as a personal transportation device, making it easier for people in remote or dangerous areas to travel.
Raymond and Kenneth formed a company, dubbed “Faun Rocket Corporation,” that manufactured and sold the jetpack, with Raymond serving as the company’s president. The invention soon became popular, and the company flourished over the next few years.
In 1954, Raymond and Kenneth sold their company to the US Government, who continued to study and improve their invention. The jetpack then became even more popular and is now commonly used for personal flights.
Throughout his life, Raymond remained passionate about aviation and enjoyed helping others pursue their dreams of flight. He died in 1970 at the age of 53. A memorial was held in his honor in 1971, and a plaque was placed at the Raymond Faun Memorial Airport to commemorate his achievements.
His legacy lives on to this day, as his invention of the jetpack continues to revolutionize the way we travel. From civilian to military applications, the jetpack has become a staple of the aviation industry.
