TRIBUTE

Chrysler Chairman (L) listens as Allen Paulson lists the qualities of the Gulfstream IV. The year is 1986, the setting a GIV furnishings mockup at the NBAA convention. Selling

aboard any of his Gulfstream aircraft—even a mockup—is something Paulson loved. Photo courtesy Gulfstream

llen Paulson was born on April 22, 1922 and died on July 19, 2000. He was a superachiever and was certainly a man worthy of recognition. And recognition of individuals and activities in the A aerospace industry is key to the editorial philosophy of this magazine. Few people on this planet who came from lowly beginnings can actually see their opportunities, seize them, bet all they have on their judgement and come out winners. Allen Paulson was one of those rare individuals. Mechanic, aerial junk dealer, pilot, salesman, innovator, entrepreneur, visionary and CEO, his accomplishments have touched all of us in corporate aviation. The seeds he planted will affect our future. Under Allen’s hands-on, soft-spoken but always determined management, the Gulfstream jets became the undisputed, most sought-after airborne chariots for corporate executives. He looked ahead to the world of supersonic business jets. I’m convinced his early work with Sukhoi will soon bring us into that realm. Allen Paulson was a great planner who read the tea leaves of today to build for our good tomorrows. As the founder of a magazine built on giving recog- nition, I felt compelled to give this salute to Allen Paulson. Many knew him better than I did but none admired him more.

Murray Smith, editor and publisher, Professional Pilot magazine

182 PROFESSIONAL PILOT / October 2000 A salute to Allen Paulson His life enriched us all. As Gulfstream’s CEO he built the bizjet against which all others would be measured. And his legacy will be the SSBJ.

California Airmotive Co, based out A memorial article by Clay Lacy. of BUR (Burbank CA), and was largely involved with engine parts taken from big R3350 radials. Allen had built up a thriving business when we met in 1955. Fish Salmon, chief engineering test pilot for Lockheed, and Jack Conroy, who built the Guppy cargo aircraft con- version, introduced me to Allen Paulson. It was a lucky day for me. An immediate friendship began with a guy who would be responsi- ble for many wonderful experiences in my life. At that point, he’d quit TWA and was flying a Beech 18 as his own “corporate transport.” Allen got more and more into the parts business. By 1958 he had started buying large airline equip- ment. The first aircraft he bought for resale were 3 Convairs. Later, he became the first guy to get involved in buying Super Con- Photos courtesy Clay Lacy stellations when TWA began sur- Best man Lacy shakes hands with groom Paulson after his December 21, 1988 marriage to plusing them in 1959. At one the former Madeline Farris in Savannah GA. point, he probably owned more 4- engine airliners than any company Opening remarks by Corp purchasing a bus ticket to ever had. He certainly owned Chairman Lee Iacocca at the 1987 California to join his older broth- more Connies than any single air- Wright Brothers Award Banquet. ers. Getting up at 5:00 am to milk line. He began to buy up used cows, he paid for room, board and Convair 880s and 990s (owning as ’ve known Allen Paulson for school supplies. At 19 he was many as 30 of them) for conver- more than 20 years. We first hired by TWA as a 30¢-an-hour sion into cargo aircraft. At one I met when he was the West apprentice mechanic. During point, on the airport in Lancaster Coast distributor for Learjet. When WWII he signed up with the Army CA, he had about 30 acres of cast- I was invited here to honor Allen, I Air Corps. Cadet Paulson was sent off airplanes jammed about as was given a copy of his life story. to study engineering at the close as you could put them. Here’s a guy who built his University of West Virginia. I worked with Al every minute I Gulfstream company to world Although the war ended before he was not flying for United, and did I leadership. He owns stables full of could enter flight training, he later have fun! I was like a kid in a champion thoroughbreds. The size took advantage of the GI Bill, earn- candy store—he had Beech 18s, of his yacht would put the navies ing his pilot’s license at VNY (Van Martin 404s, Convairs, Lockheed of some third-world countries to Nuys CA). Returning to TWA as a Constellations and Lodestars, de shame. Yet his biography begins licensed mechanic, he was Havilland Doves, Douglas DC3s, with him as a teenager cleaning involved in supporting the DC4s, DC7Bs and other aircraft. hotel rooms in Iowa. If I didn’t Constellation fleet and flew know the guy, I’d swear this whole Connies as a flight engineer. It was To Wichita and back thing was the work of some about this time that his Hollywood screenwriter. entrepreneurial instincts began to Becoming involved with Learjet take hold. in its formative years is what got llen Paulson left Clinton IA While still working full time for Allen into business aviation. It led at age 14, after winning TWA, Allen started buying surplus him eventually into the acquisition A$100 at a bingo game and aircraft engines. He formed the of both Grumman’s Gulfstream PROFESSIONAL PILOT / September 2000 183 credit, really cooled Lear sales. Bill Lear sold the factory to Gates Rubber Co and wanted factory direct sales, so the distributorship was sold to Gates and Al continued with his core business of airliners and parts and I started my own charter business with 1 Lear 24. During the 1970s Allen contin- ued his parts business and created American Jet Industries, in part to build his Hustler design. But times were changing. It was becoming more difficult to certify a new air- 1978: Paulson acquires Gulfstream. The craft and the program never made pursuit of excellence begins. it to production. It wasn’t long, though, before new opportunities tract on a napkin during lunch

Photos courtesy Paulson family surfaced. with Sir Ralph Robins of Rolls- Allen was negotiating with Royce. The contract covered an 1950s: Paulson surveys his 30 acres of Rockwell to buy its Commander initial batch of 200 Tay engines. Connies and Convairs. division. The deal was proceeding when the chairman of Grumman Gulfstream record setter operations and Rockwell’s Aero heard about it. He called Al and Commander programs. asked him, “How would you like to Allen took his company public in In 1963 I became interested in buy the Gulfstream program?” 1983, selling 80 million shares. The Bill Lear’s Learjet 23 development Allen spent a long weekend flying offering netted $90 million in cash. and made many trips to Wichita. back and forth across the country He retained personal shares worth Bill planned factory direct sales but firming up his financing. He ended over $400 million. Now named the he was running short of money and up taking over Gulfstream in Gulfstream Aerospace Corp, the realized a distributor program September 1978. Later, in February company had quickly grown to could bring in immediate orders 1981, he added the Commander more than 4000 people, becoming and deposit money. So I talked to line to his aircraft business. one of Georgia’s largest employers. Al about the distributorship and Paulson bought Savannah-based Allen Paulson and crew captured tried to get him to the factory in Gulfstream for about $58 million. 2 back-to-back world speed Wichita. The deal included some 180 acres records to demonstrate the capabil- But Al was always busy and of land, the factory and all tooling, ities of the new GIV. He flew west- never seemed to have the time to 6 or 7 new GIIs that were on the bound first, from the 1987 Paris air- make his way to Kansas. Rushing property and the GIII program show; then, 8 months later, topping around and being in a hurry all the which Grumman had placed on a record I set in a Boeing 747SP, he time was SOP for Allen. Typically hold. About 1500 people were flew eastbound from Houston. The though, one day he called me. employed at the plant at the time. flights established, or beat, 35 inter- “Why don’t we fly to Wichita in Gulfstream was running at a loss national speed and distance that P51 Mustang of yours?” he but it didn’t take long for Allen, records. These records stood until asked. “We can get out there and and the marketing team he put the early 90s, when 1 record was back fast.” together, to turn the company topped by a Concorde. In Wichita, Al took a flight in the around. Allen was proud of the Over the time he owned Lear 23. It got him really excited. fact that his new Gulfstream Gulfstream, Allen made it a suc- He quickly negotiated a Learjet dis- Aircraft Corp became profitable in cessful company and one to be tributorship for 11 western states, the 1st year of ownership. GIIs admired. In 1985, he sold the com- which he operated under California were then selling for about $4 mil- pany to the Chrysler Corp for $750 Airmotive. We got our first Learjet lion and the 1st 40 GIIIs had been million but continued running it as demonstrator, s/n 012 (which I’m guaranteed at a price of $7.5 mil- CEO and president. This marked still flying today), and I went to lion. After they’d sold the 1st 40 the first time in almost 50 years that work for Al as manager of Learjet GIIIs, Allen raised the price to Allen Paulson was on someone sales out of VNY. $8.5 million and soon the price else’s payroll. In 1989 he and Ted went up to $9.5 million. Finally Forstmann bought the company A legend develops they were selling for $12 million a back, and continued as the compa- copy. It was Al who established ny’s CEO until he retired in 1992. We sold 12 aircraft the 1st year the 1st Gulfstream completion and and a new company, Pacific Learjet support center. At an early 80s Power of positive thinking Sales, was formed with comedian Paris airshow, Paulson announced Danny Kaye as a partner. In 1966 a Gulfstream’s plan to build the now Allen Paulson’s favorite comment couple of accidents, combined hugely successful GIV. To get the was that he “never met a lazy lucky with the loss of tax investment deal moving, he scribbled a con- guy.” Regarding his many business

184 PROFESSIONAL PILOT / October 2000 Gulfstream IV record flightcrews. 1987: Westbound from Paris: (L–R) Copilot John Salamankas, Capt Paulson, Capt Bob Smyth, Copilot Jeff Bailey. 1988: Eastbound from Houston: (L–R) Capt Bailey, Copilot Salamankas, Capt Paulson, NAA Observer Ev Langworthy, Capt Smyth. deals, he would say, “Happily, I He had been developing the plane After knowing him for almost 40 made more right decisions than as a military trainer and I flew an years, I believe there were 3 impor- wrong ones.” early test flight. I mentioned to Al tant keys to Allen’s success in busi- One reason why his business that I thought the ejection seat sys- ness and in life. Firstly, he was a career was so successful was that if tem looked a little “Mickey very hard worker. For him 10 to 12 he had a deal going bad, he didn’t Mouse.” Some time later I heard hours a day was normal routine. If waste much energy trying to save that the Peregrine had crashed with things were tough he’d work even it. Instead he would move ahead the pilot bailing out during spin longer hours and then run every- on a new deal. “Trying to salvage a tests. Al, however, never men- thing through his mind at night. bad deal requires a lot of energy,” tioned or talked about it. One day I Secondly, he was smart and was a he said, “and that can be used told him that I’d heard the plane highly practical, adventurous busi- more productively finding and had crashed. He said, “Oh, yeah. nessman. Probably the greatest key working on something new.” You know how you guys were so to success was that he just never Allen was always a real “charg- worried about that ejection seat? looked back. He was always look- er.” He hardly ever let problems Well, it worked just perfectly with ing forward, constantly open to slow him down. He looked at the no problem. And,” he said, “the new possibilities and opportunities. positive side of everything. If any- plane was so strong that the tail This vision of the future was very one told him he couldn’t do this or section stayed intact!” Allen just well embodied in his initiative and that, he’d study it, find a solution didn’t acknowledge negatives. He commitment to the supersonic and achieve the objective. Anyone saw life as solving problems, business jet concept. who knew Allen would tell you always focusing on the positive and Back in 1987, when Al was CEO that he was always a very, very on the opportunities. “Everything I of Gulfstream, he investigated a positive man about everything he ever did went back to what I joint venture with the Sukhoi tried to do (or help someone else learned at an early age,” he said. Design Bureau to build a superson- do). “The best way to get ahead is to ic business jet (SSBJ), a project he A story that I think illustrates this put more effort into things than the believed must happen as current wonderful optimism (and which I other follow does.” jets have hit the wall on speed. talked about at his memorial ser- Over the years, Al continued to pur- vice in July) has to do with his sin- A vision to grow on sue the project actively and he gle-jet-engine Peregrine program. worked to create a new level of

1984: Paulson begins Peregrine evaluation. Designed to be a military jet trainer, the prototype later crashed. As Paulson observed, “The ejection seat worked perfectly!”

PROFESSIONAL PILOT / October 2000 185 Commentaries from friends and associates tained by Lacy, close friend and early years that followed, many of us associate of Allen Paulson. believed he not only lived the t was 1969 when I met Allen teachings in the book, he could IPaulson for the 1st time but 5 have written it! years passed before I joined him as Robert (Bob) Cooper a salesman for his company Sr VP Marketing (ret) American Jet. From the very begin- Gulfstream ning I was taken by his very notable but very low-key desire to he Horatio Alger Association become someone of real signifi- Twas honored to present Allen cance in the aviation industry that Paulson with the Horatio Alger he loved. He certainly did just that. Award in 1985. This award is pre- During our early years together, I sented to outstanding Americans was impressed when he gave every who have overcome humble begin- one of his managers a copy of his nings to achieve success. Recipients favorite book, The Power of of the award serve as role models Positive Thinking. He did this more for young people, demonstrating than once for the people of the what can be achieved through the other companies he led. In the American free enterprise system

1987: Paulson (L) with Sukhoi Technologies Chief Designer Mikhail Simonov during a meeting in Savannah, showing 1 of several SSBJ design concepts. interest in SSBJs. He really wanted to see the concept become a reality. Allen Paulson was a great friend and inspiration to me and to many others. Very often he was the pace- setter for the aviation community. He made things happen and wasn’t afraid to get involved in what he believed in. One day we’re going to have these long overdue SSBJs, and I believe that when this hap- pens it will be due in large part to Allen Paulson’s early leadership, passion and pio- neering efforts.

Clay Lacy has more than 47,000 hrs of flying experience in everything from DC3s to Boeing 747- 400s and nearly every type of corporate aircraft. His VNY-based Clay Lacy Aviation is home for Lacy’s popular charter fleet, which includes everything from Learjet 24s up through a GIISP and Boeing 727. In many ways, Clay Lacy’s own success story was tied to his early association with Allen Paulson. Hence, it is fitting Photo by Geof Nesossi that this memorial piece has been cap- In a rare honor, Gulfstream CEO Allen Paulson was named by Publisher Murray Smith Professional Pilot of the Year and posed in his world record-setting GIV for this Dec 1987 cover.

186 PROFESSIONAL PILOT / October 2000 designers of a new light aircraft llen Paulson joined the elite being made feasible with one of Asmall group of leaders in avia- our new small turbofans. In spite of tion when, in 1987, the National his worldwide reputation as a pow- Aeronautic Association, in its role erful industrialist, he was always as the Aero Club of America, friendly and down-to-earth, and awarded him the Wright Brothers showed great respect for his Trophy. Presentation of the award employees. Allen deserves his lofty recognized Mr Paulson’s contribu- position and he deserves to be tions to aviation as a pilot, design- remembered by all of us. er, entrepreneur, industry leader, Dr Sam Williams and employer throughout his Chairman and CEO career spanning over 50 years. Williams International In 1987 and 1988, the NAA con- firmed outstanding and impressive nly in America can a person around-the-world speed records Owith the humble beginnings of established by Mr Paulson and his an Allen Paulson have the opportu- crew in the then new Gulfstream nity to become a recognized leader IV. The records were set in both 1987: Paulson talks to Gulfstream opera- in an industry of his own choosing. weight class and unlimited cate- tors and the aviation press about his plans Making use of his own hard-earned gories for speed around the world for a supersonic business jet that will trans- resources, his determination, and westbound and eastbound. form the future of corporate flying. talent, he literally created Gulf- Paulson, who served as a mem- stream Aerospace. He developed a ber of the NAA board of directors, with hard work and perseverance. company that now sets the stan- was an avid supporter of aviation. In addition to the Horatio Alger dards for business jet aircraft. His many efforts were truly integral Award, Allen Paulson was recog- Allen was a fine man and the to the continuing success of busi- nized for his innovative contribu- most positive person I have ever ness aviation and aerospace in tions to the field of aviation with the known. I had the pleasure, privilege general. prestigious James Doolittle Award and, yes, honor to work for him for James Way for excellence in management. He about 20 years. I know from day-to- Dir Membership received the Wright Brothers day experience, when you put an National Aeronautic Assn Trophy, the Harmon Trophy and the idea and Allen Paulson together, (NAA) Howard Hughes Memorial Award. you get dynamite! He knew that a Mr Paulson was a great good idea was always an opportu- llen Paulson was a unique man American. He was an outstanding nity to be successful. Ain many ways. He was an inno- member of the Horatio Alger Allen’s made his last takeoff. He’ll vator and an entrepreneur, to be Association. The Association salutes be sorely missed. sure. And he was a man with good his memory and mourns his passing. A H “Goldie” Glenn common sense. A good salesman Terrance Giroux Vice Chairman (ret) for his products and for what he Chairman Memberships Gulfstream believed in, he could be shy at Horatio Alger Association times. He was an enjoyable person n 1973 and 74, I worked for to be around, even when his horses nything new in aviation caught IAllen Paulson. In fact, I was the lost. But even then he was gracious AAllen’s attention. Whether he very 1st vice president for his to the winners. Whether it was was in Savannah or in Kentucky American Jet Industries company. accumulating aircraft parts, building with his horses, in Oklahoma, Allen was what I would call eclec- California or any other place in the tic in his ability to envision new world, he was always very gener- products. He’d take an idea from ous with his time. Any number of here, another from there, a 3rd times he’d fly to our facility in from somewhere else, add his own Michigan to lend a helping hand. I concepts and mix them together. endeavored to reciprocate in any His Turbo Star 402 program (a way I could with Allen’s creative Cessna with Allison B17B turbo- projects. I recall quite vividly his props) was just such a product. It active participation in the prelimi- went into production and was nary design of a supersonic busi- quite successful. It even became ness transport in meetings in the backbone, at the time, for Moscow with the Chief Designer of Scenic Airlines. Allen, above all, Sukhoi. Various meetings in was a joy to work for. Savannah followed where every- James Raisbeck one seemed to turn to Allen for President 1987: Paulson, shown with Chrysler Chair- decision making. Even during his Raisbeck Engineering man Lee Iacocca, receives the Wright Bros last few months, he provided very Trophy for lifetime achievement in aviation useful recommendations for the from (R) NAA Pres Gen Clifton von Kann.

PROFESSIONAL PILOT / October 2000 187 and prices. Neither of us had a piece of paper, so we wrote it all down on a napkin. Another guest at the luncheon, from Chemical Bank, leaned across the table and said, “If you 2 guys are trying to do a deal, you’d better have some- thing a bit more substantial to write it on.” He passed a small card. It sits in a small silver frame in my London office to this day. We sort- ed out the entire deal on the card. We both signed it (and the napkin) The 1970s Hustler, “a somewhat controversial concept.” This airplane was designed for single- and that deal stuck for all our years pilot operation and was originally planned to have a P&W PT6 turboprop in the nose and a of doing business. Allen kept the P&W JT15D jet in the tail. The rear-mounted jet was never installed and the Hustler didn’t napkin. make it into production. We met many times after that. The Gulfstream V and supersonic aircraft, producing Gulfstreams or Paulson was exactly what the jets were among our topics of dis- racing horses, Allen approached Gulfstream program needed to cussion. everything with the same zeal and endure. His understanding of avia- A vivid, cherished memory was determination. He was a character tion as a businessman, his strong during a visit to his fantastic house of the best sort and he’ll be missed commitment to business aviation, in California. He took me around by all who knew him. and his great love of flying to his horse-training establishment My 1st association with Allen breathed new life into a design that and showed me a colt named came in the late 1970s while I was Grumman mistakenly thought of as . That colt turned out to be covering the Reading Airshow in a dinosaur. Allen knew the aircraft one of the greatest horses of all Pennsylvania. Late one afternoon I had a great future. He assured that time ... but neither of us knew it at sat with him in his chalet, dis- future by providing design the time. cussing aviation. As a result of his improvements, strong marketing Allen was truly larger than life, question to me, I told him I thought skills and management and, per- one of the world’s achievers. It was his “Hustler” was not a smart con- haps most important, an unshake- great to work and be associated cept. With a small cabin, what pilot able belief in the product and the with him! wanted an aircraft with 2 types of business aviation market. Sir Ralph Robins engine: a turboprop and a jet? I felt We all owe a debt to Allen for his Chairman comfortable with Allen to the point insight, courage and drive. He was Rolls-Royce that I felt he wanted to hear my a big man who took the time to be opinions—not just what he wanted friendly with the press and others llen Paulson was the 1987 to hear. Our relationship never involved in aviation. He was AHoward Hughes Memorial changed over the years. I did write always ready to fight hard for his Award (HHMA) recipient. A portion a story about his efforts to buy company while making great con- of his commendation reads, Rockwell’s aircraft divisions, which tributions to his industry. “Much-honored aerospace manag- at the time included the Sabreliner. NBAA was pleased and honored er, pilot, designer and manufacturer Allen told me later when the when, in 1994, Allen Paulson ac- of corporate transport aircraft; Grumman people read his story cepted the association’s Meri- helped to shape the industry’s air- they called him and said he should torious Service Award to Aviation. craft modification and maintenance buy the Gulfstream program Jack Olcott practices.” Paulson’s award was instead. The rest is history. President personally presented by William David North NBAA Lummis, originator of the award Editor and first cousin of Howard Hughes. Aviation Week magazine hen Allen Paulson bought HHMA has recognized such presti- Wthe Gulfstream program from gious names as Jack Northrop, uring my years as editor of Grumman, the program really start- Jimmy Doolittle, Kelly Johnson, DB/CA magazine, I met Allen ed to “take off.” I got to know him Chuck Yeager, Barry Goldwater Paulson on many occasions before quite well as he started to formu- and Pete Conrad, just to name a he bought the Gulfstream program. late his ideas for the future aircraft. few. Allen Paulson’s name is now Many journalists, myself included, The high point, without doubt, etched in aviation history along had suspicions about what Allen came when we signed the deal with these other notable industry could bring to such a prestigious which launched the Gulfstream IV. pioneers. product. We knew him as someone The deal was actually done at William Schoneberger who dealt with used aircraft, con- lunch at the Waldorf Astoria in Former President versions and a somewhat contro- New York. We were sitting next to California Aero Club versial design called “The Hustler.” each other trying to negotiate num- It didn’t take long to realize Allen bers of Tay engines, payment terms

188 PROFESSIONAL PILOT / October 2000 Designed to shrink the world. “Supersonic’s the next most important step for business aviation,” declared Allen Paulson. This last design for the Gulfstream/Sukhoi collaboration, a 3-engine version of the GVI SSBJ, was developed in 1989–90. Problems that arose as the Soviet Union began its lengthy transition into today’s Russia, combined with funding difficulties, placed the entire program on hold. Paulson’s interest in this joint project continued after his retirement from Gulfstream in 1992. By the late 90s he believed that conditions were more favorable for develop- ment of an SSBJ. (Artwork by Jack Moses for DPR Co, Oklahoma City OK.)

llen Paulson always seemed to desire from the day of our 1st meet- ing. It remains with us today. Abe pushing the envelope, ing. It remained so over the years. Dr Mikhail Simonov whether in the development of new Allen Paulson and I came from dif- Chief Designer versions of his Gulfstreams or in his ferent worlds. We didn’t speak the Sukhoi Design Bureau, Moscow vision for the creation of a superson- same language. Regardless, we ic version. He believed that was the clearly and mutually understood llen liked everything he did in next most important step in business that business aviation’s future was Aaviation to be fast. His planes aviation. Undoubtedly, he’ll be supersonic. We didn’t ignore the (and sometimes his horses, which proven right in that vision as well. difficulties such a project would he named after aviation intersec- My wife Dottie and I had the need to overcome—and still must tions) had to be faster than the other pleasure of being with Allen at the surmount. But Allen’s marvelous guy’s. I can picture him, during Waldorf following his selection for vision for aviation and his well- breaks from business meetings, por- the Horatio Alger Award. He fol- known positive approach went ing over maps and navigation lowed Donald Trump and NY Gov beyond the problems that we knew charts, planning his next Gulfstream Mario Cuomo at the podium. He would loom before us. speed record flight. He’d be plan- spoke without notes about his love It is difficult to imagine that 2 ning how to get around the world, if for aviation and what it meant to such different people as Allen and I possible without wasting any time him and his career—and he did it could become so close and landing to get some fuel. all without notes. The audience respectful of each other so quickly. His clockwise and counterclock- and his fellow inductees rightly We first met at the invitation of wise trips around the world setting congratulated him for his warm Gulfstream’s Al Balaban, in the speed records in the newest Gulf- and inspirational talk. Gulfstream chalet, on the opening streams—1 of those trips beating a We visited Allen at his country day of the 1987 Paris Airshow. We 747—proved he knew how to get club near San Diego. During a lun- learned that Allen had earlier the job done. cheon of turkey burgers, he received watched a practice flight of the Knowing how Allen always care- a cell-phone call. He said, “Where’s Sukhoi Su-27. Its performance fully planned his flights, I’m con- the decimal point?“ There was a impressed him so much he told Al vinced that he studied the charts pause, and he said, “OK, but be he would like to meet the people and planned the trip to be sure careful!” We had no idea if he was who created the plane. We met he’d get from here to heaven fast buying or selling horses, planes, real that day and immediately began to and with no unnecessary stops. estate, or another company. But share our thoughts about an SSBJ. Anywhere! we’ll always remember Allen with The SSBJ is a world project and Lee Iacocca “Where’s the decimal point?” as such it will go forward. We are Chairman, The Hon Edward Stimpson as dedicated today to the SSBJ pro- Chrysler Corp (ret) US Ambassador to ICAO ject as we have ever been. We are Excerpts from his Past President of GAMA as committed to the Paulson vision eulogy for now as we were during our years Allen Paulson, he creation of the supersonic of association with him. Allen’s July 2000. Tbusiness jet was our mutual quiet, positive spirit was captivat- PROFESSIONAL PILOT / October 2000 189 “Allen Paulson made a difference: This is most certainly true!”

Tribute Editor Al Balaban was formerly director of corporate and marketing communication with Gulfstream Aerospace.

190 PROFESSIONAL PILOT / October 2000