Top 5 New Year’s Eve Destinations

With the biggest party of the year just around the corner one can practically smell the champagne flowing, hear the crowds roaring, and feel 2011 fade away as 2012 rolls in. New Year’s Eve is the one night when people everywhere get together for epic parties that nobody wants to miss out on.

Thankfully JetCharters.com just happens to know where the best events are taking place this year so that everyone from your best friend to your boss to your grandma can get together, climb aboard a jet, and rock out to “Auld Lang Syne” as the ball drops wherever you decide to go.

Take a look at these Top 5 New Year’s Eve Destinations:

1. New York City: This is a no-brainer. Every night’s a party in New York so it’s no wonder these folks really know how celebrate NYE. Times Square will be packed with hundreds of thousands of partygoers pulsing with the vibrancy of the city as they await the infamous ball drop. Thousands more will party indoors at the many clubs, bars, restaurants in the area and all throughout Manhattan.

The best thing about spending New Year’s Eve in NYC is that there’s something for everyone. So whether you like VIP bars, hot nightclubs, street parties, or five-star dining you’ll have it made in NYC. There are even options for anyone who wants to skip the traditional partying and choose a healthier route and that’s the Brooklyn Bridge Walk or New Year’s Midnight Run.

Fly in to one of the city’s major international airports or nearby regional airports like Teterboro in NJ and be no more than 45 minutes away from the city that never sleeps upon arrival.

2. Las Vegas: Second only to New York in terms of ultimate party cities, Vegas will definitely bring the action this year. This time of year the infamous Las Vegas Strip closes down to traffic and becomes one of the largest street parties in the world full of celebrities, food, drinks, live entertainment, showgirls, and hundreds of thousands of people.

The hotels, casinos, bars, and restaurants will also be ready to party harder than ever before so that by the time the scheduled 40,000 tons of fireworks go off by midnight it’ll seem tame compared to the rest of the night.

3. Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro: True NYE celebrators know an epic party when they see one and that is why these people are all heading to Rio de Janiero for a Brazilian extravaganza. While most NYE celebrators in the US will be drinking to stay warm in the frigid winter temps, it’s summertime in Brazil.

Tradition calls for partygoers to dress in white to attract good luck and riches for the New Year. Then all these good-luck wishers take the party to the beach at midnight and jump over seven waves and toss handfuls of flowers into the water while making a wish. Afterwards, drenched participants continue to party on the beach, in the streets, or wherever else the night takes them.

People who wish to stay dry in Rio can celebrate at the Copacabana Palace Hotel where an indoor ultimate party will be going on all throughout the night.

4. New Orleans: The Deep South’s slow style hits partygoers like a surprisingly strong drink. The New Year rolls in slowly on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans which is a bohemian area of the old town and favored over Bourbon Street by locals. There will be live bands, rogue brass musicians playing street corners and alleyways, drinking on the street, crawfish and gumbo vendors, and dozens of bars and cafes filled with people celebrating the New Year southern style. By the time the clock strikes midnight and fireworks go up over the Mississippi River, the party will be rocking steady on into the morning.

5. Atlanta: Not to be outdone by a fellow southern city, Atlanta’s famed Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta. This six-block swath of restaurants, nightclubs, and bars begins the NYE celebration at noon and lasts until 4 am. It’s one of the few events in the country where entire families can have fun since kids can participate in the early hours until they’re pawned off on babysitters while adults drink, dance, eat, and celebrate the night away. Live music (including big-name acts), fireworks, and the dropping of an 800 lb peach are all some of the things that make this event one of Georgia’s most popular.

 Decided where you want to go yet? Book your jet charter and be fully prepared to welcome 2012.

A Look at the Piper Aircraft Company

Nowadays, $761 doesn’t go very far. But in 1930 it was enough to buy all of the assets owned by what would later become Piper Aircraft Manufacturing Company.

Back then, in the late 1920s, the Piper Aircraft Manufacturing Co. was a small operation owned by two brothers, Clarence and Gordon Taylor. The company was known as the Taylor Brothers Aircraft Corporation and was located in Rochester, New York.

But the Taylor Brothers Aircraft Corp. didn’t last long. Gordon passed away unexpectedly in 1928. Soon after the company relocated to Pennsylvania where there was a larger facility and even some local investors, and Clarence thought the move would bolster the company’s sales. But by 1929 the company wasn’t faring well and filed for bankruptcy a year later.

That’s when Pennsylvania oil tycoon William T. Piper swooped in and purchased its assets for $761. Under Piper’s control, the business was reorganized and renamed Taylor Aircraft Company. Piper kept Clarence Taylor on board as president.

During this time, the nation was in the grips of the Great Depression. Nobody had much of anything, let alone money to spare for private planes, but William Piper had a plan.

He thought that easy-to-operate low-cost private planes could find a market even in the bleak economic situation – and he was right. The company began to flourish, but the good times didn’t last long. In 1935, William Piper bought out Clarence Taylor after the two clashed on what they thought was best for the company. Two years later, the factory was destroyed by a fire and it was forced to relocate.

As it had in the past when faced with adversity, the company – which was now called the Piper Aircraft Company – bounced back quickly after the fire. It relocated operations to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania where it thrived into the 1940s.

After World War II, the Lock Haven facility was no longer sufficient for operations, and the company acquired more property at Vero Beach Municipal Airport in Florida.

The company experienced more success and tribulations over the next few decades. The Lock Haven facility was nearly unsalvageable after massive flooding in the area in 1972. The company lost parts, frames, and production equipment that was crucial to several designs. This flood caused executives at Piper to rethink their operations. It was decided that production of the Piper PA-24 Comanche and Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche would end and the rest of the production on various models would move to Florida so that the Pennsylvania plant could be closed.

While the Pennsylvania chapter of the Piper story was coming to a close, the company began a new one with the opening of the manufacturing plant in Lakeland, Florida.

This move started off small, with just 20 people working at the Lakeland location in 1981. By the end of the year, more than 2,000 jobs were created at the plant. More and more aircraft was produced for private use and commuter airlines, and service centers continued to maintain Piper’s growing fleet.

By the time the new millennium rolled in, Piper Aircraft was a booming aviation company and recognized the world over as a premier producer of aircraft.

But like the rest of the world, Piper Aircraft wasn’t immune to the global economic downfall. Production ceased on many jets and layoffs were necessary to keep the company from falling into insurmountable debt.

However, if the history of the Piper Aircraft Company has taught the world anything, it’s that the company always triumphs in the face of adversity. 

Piper Today…

Of the 144,000 aircraft produced by the company, more than 85,000 still fly to this day. These quality jets are all manufactured under Piper’s strict quality assurance guidelines that ensures each aircraft is compliant with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Aircraft Certification System Evaluation Program audit.

Although the company employs less now than just a couple of years ago, more than 600 men and women still work for Piper Aircraft Company. These are the people who do everything from maintain the existing fleet owned by customers all over the world, carry out the day to day operations, and engineer the planes of tomorrow.

Piper on JetCharters.com…

It might seem strange to think this Piper Seneca III was among the first charter aircraft on this "jet" featured site, but it certainly wasn't the last since our focus is to always locate the perfect aircraft for any trip. Retail charter consumers will notice various Piper models when searching jetcharters.com for certain trips.  

Fly with JetCharters.com for the Holidays

With less than two weeks until Christmas, now is the time to book travel for your trip home. Holiday travel is always hectic, especially when it involves commercial options. But all of the crowds, last-minute changes and cancellations can be avoided with private jet travel. If your needs involve flying the entire family home (even the dog), traveling with injuries or illnesses, or making multiple stops, jet charter is the way to go.

Flying with Families

If you’ve got small kids, you know that keeping them occupied is important when it comes to peaceful traveling. On private jets, there’s room for the kids to sprawl out, play with handheld video games, color, and do just about anything else kids like to do nowadays. Parents all have the ability to take their children to the lavatory without worrying about the regulations in force on commercial jets that limit out-of-seat time for passengers. Older kids will also be occupied onboard as most jets offer Internet service, TVs/DVD systems, and options for video game plug-ins. Everyone knows that one of the worst parts about traveling is getting hungry and having limited options, but that doesn’t happen on charter jets. Many jets have partial or full galleys so that having a snack or meal onboard is not a problem. Catering is also an option on virtually all flights, so ask about catering options while booking your trip if that is something your family would be interested in.

Flying with Pets

For many people, pets are a part of the family so that means they get to go wherever the family goes. Fortunately, on private jets, dogs fly in the cabin along with their families. Unlike commercial jets where dogs either have to be stowed under the seat or in cargo where virtually anything can happen to them, dogs on private jets live in the lap of luxury.

Extra Care

There’s nothing worse than having to travel while ill or injured, but on a charter jet passengers have all the comfort and space they need. So if you’re flying off to grandma’s for Christmas and need a place to prop up your broken leg and relax, even a lightweight jet will have your needs covered. If you or your family members need extra care (for instance, the elderly, special needs children) the staff on your charter jet will accommodate their needs. If travel is necessary for someone who needs medical assistance onboard, look into an air ambulance. An air ambulance has specially trained pilots and crews that are equipped to deal with medical care. In addition, a passenger’s personal medical staff can travel with the patient (if necessary).

Business and the Holidays

Sometimes it’s not always possible to fully get away from the office, but most jets offer Internet service and ample space to continue working while in the air. If necessary, your trip can include multiple stops so it is possible to have Christmas dinner with the family and then continue on to a meeting in another city. Other

Things to Consider

Depending on where you are going for the holidays, it’s important to think about some factors that will impact your trip. For instance, do you want to make a fuel stop? If not, try getting a larger jet. Are you going to be skiing or playing gulf? Make sure there is enough room on your charter jet to handle the size and weight of the skis or clubs. Overall, taking a private jet this holiday season is the best way to avoid the hassle of commercial traveling and enjoy spending time getting away or visiting family.

Explore JetCharters.com to book your trip now.

Getting to Know Hawker Beechcraft

The Beginning of Hawker Beechcraft…

To understand the Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is to understand Walter Beech. 

In 1905 aviation was a concept most people had yet to fully understand.  The Wright Brothers shocked the world two years prior with their invention of the first airplane to be successfully flown by man. Their success inspired 14-year-old Beech to build his life around aviation. Using his own design, the Tennessee-born teenager built his first glider. 

When Beech grew into a man, his passion for flying grew along with him and he flew for the United States in WWI. After the war, he became a test pilot for Swallow Airplane Company. But being behind the scenes wasn’t the right fit for Beech. He wanted to be a part of the action. In 1924 he teamed up with fellow aviation-enthusiast Clyde Cessna and formed the Travel Air Manufacturing Company. 

This venture was successful and gave Beech the confidence he needed to step out on his own and start the Beech Aircraft Company in 1932 in Wichita, KS with his wife Olive. From that point on, Beech and his company experienced series of successes that would later make the Hawker Beechcraft Corporation what it is today – almost 80 years after its first incarnation. 

The Early Days…

The Beech Aircraft Company started off with the Model 17 Staggerwing and immediately produced 750 Staggerwings, 270 of which were manufactured for the US Air Force to use in World War II.

After production ceased on the Staggerwings, the most well-known aircraft in the company, the Beechcraft Bonaza, was produced in 1947. This single-engine business jet reportedly has the longest production run of any aircraft in history, even today.

Tragedy struck the company in 1950 when Beech died suddenly from a heart attack. Although his death was sudden and unexpected, Beech had accomplished something many people never experienced. He dreamed of making and flying aircraft of all kinds and that’s just what he did. He came a long way from the adolescent boy who built his own aircraft in the early 1900s to becoming the CEO of one of the leading aircraft manufacturing corporations in the world. 

After his death, his wife continued on with the company as CEO until it became a subsidiary of the Raytheon Company in 1980. During Olive’s time as head of the Beech Aircraft Company, many successful jets were produced. 

In 1961 the forerunner to today’s Baron G58, the Baron B55, was introduced and became the most popular twin-engine owner-flown aircraft on the market. A few years later, Beech released the Model 90 Beech King Air. This turbopop became the industry’s standard in corporate props and to this day King Air models maintain 90 percent of the market share in their class. 

Although the Beech Aircraft Company had yet to become affiliated with the Hawker line of jets, the DeHavilland Aircraft Company, which developed the 125 business jet, was purchased by the Hawker Siddeley Corporation and the 125 series was renamed the Hawker in 1968.

Over the next decade, both the Beech and Hawker series continued to expand, modify, and keep up with technological advances. 

Enter Raytheon…

In 1980, Beech Aircraft Corp. became a subsidiary of Raytheon Company. Throughout the ‘80s, Beech Aircraft continued producing airliners, business jets – including the Beechjet, which was a 10-passenger corporate jet that featured the latest technology available. Two years later, Beech retrofitted the old Bonanza line to make it compliant with the safety standards of the time and keep up with consumer demand. 

By the end of the decade, the corporation focused more on its ground force than its fleet and relocated its assembly operation from Japan to Kansas and provided hundreds of jobs for locals.

In the early ‘90s, Beech Aircraft’s parent company Raytheon acquired Raytheon Corporate Jets, makers of the Hawker line, from British Aerospace. Beech Aircraft and Raytheon Corporate Jets then merged to form Raytheon Aircraft. 

This merger brought the best of Beech Aircraft and the Hawker line together under the Raytheon name, but it wasn’t until 2007 that the Hawker Beechcraft Corporation name was given to the well-established  jet manufacturing company. This renaming was a result of its new formation by GS Capital Partners and Onex Partners and signified the importance of the Hawker and Beechcraft brands. 

The Ground Force… 

Throughout the company’s history and all its incarnations along the way, success has followed thanks to the quality jets and level of consumer satisfaction, all of which can be attributed to the dedication of Walter Beech and the thousands of men and women who helped make the Hawker Beechcraft Corporation what it is today. 

Since the company’s inception in the 1930s, more than 54,000 aircraft have been built and more than 36,000 jets and turboprops still fly to this day. Currently, 6,000 people worldwide are employed by the corporation. 

These are the people who do everything from engineering to maintenance to customer support. These people work at the company’s facilities in Kansas, Arkansas, the United Kingdom, and in Mexico, with the bulk of the worldwide staff being in Kansas. 

Hawker Beechcraft also has more than 100 authorized service centers throughout the world, more than any other jet manufacturing company in the industry. 

In light of the current worldwide economic crisis, Hawker Beechcraft signed an agreement with the state government of Kansas in 2010 that  would keep its facilities in its hometown of Wichita until 2020 (at least) and retain 4000 employees in exchange for a $40 million incentive package.  The deal was inked to ensure the multi-billion dollar company could stay ahead of its debt and continue to maintain consumer and employee satisfaction. 

Keeping employees satisfied is something Hawker Beechcraft strives for and that is why anyone who works for the corporation is invited to partake in the company-sponsored clubs and networking groups that are offered after the work day is over so all employees can have a well-balance life of work and leisure time. 

The company also offers several diversity initiatives for everyone from the LGBT community to young employees to the many multi-cultural networks of employees. All of these efforts are taken to treat employees with the respect they deserve. This employee satisfaction translates into the superior craftsmanship and care of the Hawker Beechcraft fleet and help makes it one of the leading jet manufacturing companies in the world. 

The Hawker Beechcraft Fleet on JetCharters.com…

JetCharters.com is proud to offer Hawker Beechcraft aircraft through its network of quality charter operators. Simply submit a trip request to view Hawker Beechcraft aircraft for charter. 

As with our last article on Cessna, there are too many models to list here, though here are a few...

Hawker 800XP
Hawker 700 
King Air 90
King Air 200

From Dream to Reality: The Early Days of Cessna

Before the turn of the 20^th century, a young boy living on a Kansas farm never would have guessed that his passion for machinery would have the capacity to change the world. But it did; because that boy was Clyde Cessna, the founder of Cessna Aircraft Corporation. 

In 1910, Clyde witnessed an air show that changed not only his career, but his life. At that time, Clyde was working in the booming auto industry in Oklahoma. He was so inspired by the air show that he went to New York to work for Queen Aeroplane Company. This is where Clyde learned about the aviation industry and aircraft construction.

Clyde stayed with Queen Aeroplane Company for only a short while. He wanted to build planes of his own and so he returned to Oklahoma. He built his first plane out of spruce and linen. It had a two-stroke four-cylinder engine with a maximum of 40 horsepower. Clyde tested this aircraft repeatedly, but failed more than a dozen times. It wasn’t until he tried to fly again for the 13^th time that he finally got his aircraft in the air – albeit only for a moment because he quickly crashed into a tree. 

Locals took notice of what Clyde was doing. They didn’t think he would ever amount to much of anything and considered his attempts at flight to be worthless. It wasn’t until he finally flew five miles and had a successful landing that people began to realize that Clyde was onto something. 

Over the next few years, Clyde continued pursuing his interests in aviation and in constructing monoplanes. In 1916, he purchased a vacant building where he was able to construct new aircraft to exhibit and provide flight training for future pilots, but this effort was short-lived.

For nearly 10 years, World War I and its aftermath prevented Clyde from continued exploration into aviation. It wasn’t until 1925 that he really went headfirst back into the industry. That’s when he, along with Walter Beech and Lloyd Stearman, started the Travel Air Manufacturing Company. It wasn’t long before this Wichita-based company became a leader among aircraft manufacturing companies. It was known for constructing aircraft with quality craftsmanship and superior design concepts.

But Clyde left the Travel Air Manufacturing Company after two years when his partners did not agree with him over design issues. He started the Cessna Aircraft Corporation in 1927 in Wichita so he could pursue his passion his way. 

The first product that Cessna made was the AW. This monoplane could cruise for up to seven hours at 145 mph. From there, Cessna began producing more aircraft, all of which were known for not only their safety and performance, but also their affordability. 

Despite this success, Cessna was unable to stay open during the Great Depression. The company filed for bankruptcy and shut its doors in 1931. Clyde thought that the company would never see the light of day again, but just three years later, he reopened. 

The Legacy Continues…

The company resumed its successful track record, and Clyde was happy with what he created. In 1936, he sold the company to his nephews and participated in business operations as a figurehead, but spent the rest of his life back on the family farm and flying his many planes. 

Even without Clyde actively participating in the day-to-day functions of the company, Cessna became a world-leader in aircraft production. 

In 1933, the Cessna CR-3, a propeller-powered racer, won the American Air Race in Chicago. Around this time, Cessna became known for producing planes that were the fastest in the industry. Aviation-enthusiasts swore by Cessna and the orders for the planes came in steadily. 

In the 1940s, Cessna entered the big time when the United States Army and Royal Canadian Air Force both placed orders for Cessna T-50s. The combined order called for more than 200 planes, and Cessna ceased commercial production to work on the wartime production needs. 

It wasn’t until 1946 that Cessna got back into the game of commercial aviation with their release of the Model 120 and Model 140, the latter of which was deemed the Outstanding Plane of the Year by the US Flight Instructors Association. 

Cessna delivered its first big hit, the Skyhawk, in the mid 1950s. This plane was an overnight success and more than 1,400 models were built in its first year of existence. To this day, the Skyhawk remains the most widely produced light aircraft of all time. 

By the end of the 1960s, Cessna had produced more than 50,000 aircrafts. It also entered the business-jet market with the release of the FanJet500, which was the predecessor to the Cessna Citation.

Cessna Releases the Citation Line…

In 1971 the Citation made its debut. The release of the Citation was eventually a game-changer for Cessna, but it took awhile before the line reached its maximum potential.

The Citation wasn’t the first business jet on the market. It also wasn’t nearly as fast or powerful as its direct competitor, the Learjet 25.  In fact, it was often referred to as the “Slowtation” in the media. This was due in part to the jet’s turbofan engines, which were not as powerful as the turbojet engines found in other business jets. It also had straight as opposed to swept rings, which contributed to its inability to keep up with the competition.

But Cessna engineers were determined to make the Citation a worth competitor. By 1976, the jet was retooled and given  longer wings, a capacity to handle a higher gross weight, and it was still able to access shorter landing fields thanks to its thrust reversers. This upgraded jet was given the name “Citation I.” From there, the Cessna Citation Jet corporate line was born, which catered to the burgeoning travel needs of the world’s professional business men and women.  

This new market benefitted the company in several ways throughout its history, but when the Citation Jet family was introduced it came right on the heels of a semi-recession which had caused production to slow considerably. Luckily, the corporate market was thriving and Cessna was eager to compete with rival aircraft manufacturing companies. 

Cessna’s Ground Force…

Ever since Clyde Cessna started the company it’s always been headquartered in Wichita, which, thanks to Cessna, is nicknamed the “Air Capital of the World.”

This nickname comes from the fact that Cessna has sold more aircraft (close to 200,000) than any other corporate jet manufacturer and the company contributes heavily to the Wichita economy.

Cessna’s corporate headquarters occupies 1,400 acres of land in Wichita where all of its fleet is serviced. The majority of the fleet is also built in Wichita, aside from the Mustang, which is produced in Independence, KS.

The independence facility builds and services the interiors of the fleet. It also acts as a delivery hub for Cessna’s single engine pistons.  

Cessna also has a facility in Columbus, GA where single engine pistons are produced and detail parts of business jets are assembled. McCauley Propeller Systems is also located at the facility and produces propellers used in Cessna’s fleet. 

Cessna’s only international facility is in Chihuahua, Mexico. This facility opened in 2006 and produces wire harnesses and sheet metal assemblies for the Citation family of aircrafts. This facility also produces single engine piston aircraft. 

In addition to the production facilities, Cessna operates Citation service centers all over the US and Europe. These service centers are open all day every day to meet the needs of Cessna’s customers.

Cessna’s Impact… 

With all of its facilities and service centers, Cessna employees more than 8,500 individuals worldwide today. But throughout the company’s 84-year history, countless of men and women have built lasting careers while working for Cessna. 

It’s one of the few companies that withstood the test of time and stayed strong throughout times of war, economic downfalls, change of ownership, and kept up with technological and industry demands. 

Cessna on JetCharters.com…

JetCharters.com is proud to offer Cessna aircraft through its network of quality charter operators. Simply submit a trip request to view Cessna/Citation aircraft for charter. 

Cessna’s impact on JetCharters.com is so profound, there are simply too many models to list in this blog. Here are a few…

Citation CJ1

Citation XLS

Citation Sovereign

Cessna Grand Caravan

View more Cessna/Citation profiles on our full aircraft page, or submit a trip request here.

The History of Gulfstream

In the Beginning: Gulfstream Gets its Wings

It’s the people on the ground that make the reality of what happens in the sky a possibility.

For more than 50 years, the employees of Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. have taken a company originally known for its military aircraft production on a journey to become one of the premier corporate jet manufacturers in the world.

That journey began in the midst of the civil rights movement in 1960s Savannah, Georgia when Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. of New York started a manufacturing facility for civilian business jets.

At the time, Grumman was known primarily for its production of military aircraft, but in the late 1950s, the game changed when Grumman executives ordered the production of an aircraft built solely for the American business traveler.

This was the Gulfstream I, a turbo-prop with seating for 12 passengers, a maximum cruising speed of 350 mph at 25,000 feet, and a range of 2,200 miles.

The Gulfstream I was a hit and Grumman ordered the production of 200 Gulfstream I aircrafts. These turbo-props were of the utmost quality and had the ability to withstand the test of time.

To this day, Phoenix Air operates 13 of the original model and 19 other Gulfstream I aircrafts still take to the skies 50 years after it was first designed.

With the success of the Gulfstream I and in an effort to improve efficiency in the 1960s, Grumman divided the company’s military and civilian aircraft production into separate factions. Military operations stayed in New York while production for the Gulfstream I and all future civilian passenger aircraft moved to Savannah, GA. 

This move to the south proved beneficial for Grumman in a variety of ways. A skilled workforce ensured that production of the aircraft would never be halted; the land where the new plant went up was right next to an airfield perfect for flight testing and training; and there was ample room in the surrounding acres to expand the facility as needed (which would come in handy as the millennium drew near).

Furthermore, the southern weather was a stark contrast to that of the New York climate where the company was founded. Gone were the snowy winters and bitter cold that could impede flight testing and training.

Savannah itself also benefited from the move and continues to do so. It brought steady work to an area that was in the throes of the civil rights movement. Up to 90 percent of Grumman’s employees were locals and by 1967 Grumman’s staff of 100 grew to 1,700. Even now, manufacturing companies like Gulfstream account for 25 percent of Savannah’s core industry and provide thousands of jobs for local residents.

Flying into the ‘70s and ‘80s

Changes and growth within the company continued into the 1970s when Grumman merged with American Aviation Corp, a light-aircraft manufacturer. By 1977 more than 250 Gulfstream II had been delivered. It was then that Grumman sold off the entire Gulfstream line and the plant in Savannah to American Jet Industries, a company operated by aviation entrepreneur Allen Paulson.

With the new company name of Gulfstream American, Paulson immediately began tackling the project of coming out with the Gulfstream III. He wanted a jet that could fly farther and faster than any of its predecessors.

By 1979, Paulson’s goal was met and the Gulfstream III was in the air. A year later it earned the distinction of being the first jet to fly over the globe’s north and south poles.  

Like the jets themselves, the Gulfstream company began to pick up speed in the 1980s. On the heels of the success of the Gulfstream III, the company debuted the Gulfstream II B. The Gulfstream II B had the weight, wings, and performance advantages of the Gulfstream III, but the fuselage of the Gulfstream II.

With its ever-increasing fleet, work orders continued to pour in and more and more aircraft was produced.  When production on the Gulfstream IV began, the need for more and more employees rose. In 1982, 2,500 people were employed by Gulfstream, which at that point was renamed Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. This name change was done to signify the corporation’s worldwide scope and continued expansion.

That expansion included Gulfstream’s foray into becoming a publicly traded company when 8.8 million shares of its stock were offered to the public. Soon after, Gulfstream made its debut on the Fortune 500 list at No. 417.

With so much activity in the skies, different industries began to take notice of Gulfstream. Chrysler Corp. acquired Gulfstream in 1985 in a move to cash in on the booming high-tech industry and diversify. This effort by the car giant was short-lived and Chrysler sold Gulfstream back to Paulson in 1989.

Once again under Paulson’s control, Gulfstream thrived.

The ‘90s and Turn of the Century

In the 1990s, the company entered into a five-year contract with jet charter and fractional ownership company, NetJets. It also completed testing on the Gulfstream V, which became the first ultra-long range business jet ever manufactured. The GV was first delivered in the summer of 1997 and within just a few months it had broken dozens of speed and distance records set by other jets.

Like each decade in the company’s past, the new millennium brought about more change and another acquisition of the company. General Dynamics, a leader in the defense industry, acquired Gulfstream with the intentions of enhancing performance and lowering costs.

One of its first orders of business was the opening of a $5.5 million aircraft refurbishment and completions support facility in Savannah. In addition, four maintenance facilities were purchased in Dallas, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, and West Palm Beach. These facilities became service centers utilized for the maintenance and repairs of Gulfstream jets and other corporate aircraft and were dubbed the General Dynamic Aviation Services.

This growth became a trend in the early part of the new millennium as the Savannah plant continued to expand. The expansion included a service center, fuel farm, paint hangar, and sales and design center. A Research and Development Center was also open. Combined, these expansions generated close to 2,000 more jobs.

Shortly thereafter, a second Research and Development Center was opened to accommodate another 150 engineers.

All of this expansion was necessary as the Gulfstream fleet continued to expand to include a large fleet of ultra-long range, long range, mid-range, and high-speed aircraft. Gulfstream is scheduled to release the ultra-large cabin ultra-long range G650.

Along with growth, customer service continued to be of the utmost importance to the company and it still is today. The first international service center was set up at the London-Luton Airport to service aircraft abroad. On a local level, a specially equipped Gulfstream 100 was developed to provide airborne support to service the Gulfstream fleet in North America and the Caribbean. This development meant that if there was any problem with any aircraft in the fleet then service could be provided almost instantly.

This level of quality and care is what customers have come to expect from the company that considers itself the world-standard in aviation. Perhaps that is why in spite of the world’s economic downturn, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. continues to grow.

Gulfstream Today

In spite of the economy, travel needs have not changed, especially among those who partake in private aviation. The need – and desire -  to forego commercial flights remains a popular choice for both business professionals and leisure travelers.

According to Gulfstream’s corporate communications manager Heidi Fedak, sales in the second quarter of 2011 were the highest they’ve been since 2008.

Fedak said that the large cabin and ultra-large cabin aircraft models are doing well in terms of sales, especially in the overseas market which accounts for 70 percent of orders booked in the first half of 2011. Fedak said of those orders, 50 percent came from customers located in Asia.

In addition, North American sales doubled between the first and second quarters of 2011, which indicates that the market is coming back in the United States.

Yet none of this would be possible without the 11,500 employees that work at the seven major locations across the globe night and day to manufacture these world-class jets.

Gulfstream’s Fleet Available on JetCharters.com

Submit a trip request on JetCharters.com and you will often find Gulfstream aircraft available for your trip. Here are a few featured aircraft from Gulfstream:

Gulfstream G200

Gulfstream G350

Gulfstream G400

Gulfstream G550

Private Aviation and the Global Economy

With private aviation in political crosshairs, we felt it necessary to take a long and detailed look at how the industry and its many members contribute to the global economy.

Hundreds of thousands of people around the world work night and day to manufacture, maintain, and operate the corporate jets that take passengers all over the globe every day.

They are the ones who do everything from building the actual aircrafts to maintaining and flying them in a safe environment.

These people are the ones you’ll never come across on a flight. They are the behind-the-scenes force that enables an important industry to thrive.  

In a series of articles on the JetCharters.com blog, we’ll be looking at manufactures, charter operators, and every other industry that makes this industry tick.

Sure, we may throw in shameless promotion for JetCharters.com here and there, but we hope you’ll enjoy the ride. Stay tuned for our first featured post

Update: Wednesday, October 26th

Our first blog post about the industry is now live, featuring Gulfstream. Check it out here. Enjoy the read and leave comments if you have flown on any of their work.

Update: Thursday, November 17th

Our second blog post in this series went live today. To read all about Cessna, click here.

Update: Monday, December 1st

Next up....Hawker Beechcraft. This is an aviation site but what a good history lesson this series is becoming.