SAVANNAH, Ga., October 21, 2009 — Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today named Amway Corp., of Ada, Mich., and the U.S. Air Force’s 310th Airlift Squadron, MacDill AFB, Tampa, Fla., as the inaugural winners of the Gulfstream Outstanding Flight Award.
Representatives from Amway and the 310th Airlift Squadron were presented the Alber-Rowley Trophy at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Annual Meeting & Convention, Oct. 20-22 in Orlando, Fla.
The annual awards spotlight flights involving superior airmanship performed in customer Gulfstream aircraft and highlight significant real-world business and special-mission aviation operations by Gulfstream operators. The trophy is named for Carl Alber and Fred Rowley who, in 1958, made the first flight of a Gulfstream aircraft. “Amway and the 310th Airlift Squadron represent the very best of Gulfstream operators around the world,” said Joe Lombardo, executive vice president, General Dynamics Aerospace group. “We are very proud to honor them with the Alber-Rowley Trophy as part of the inaugural Gulfstream Outstanding Flight Award.”
Amway was nominated for a series of flights on May 25, 2009, from Grand Rapids, Mich., to Las Vegas that supported the company’s 50th anniversary. A total of 22 aircraft, including 12 Gulfstreams, flew 1,163 employees on a combined 38 flights. All Gulfstream aircraft performed with 100 percent reliability.
The 310th Airlift Squadron’s nominated flight was a dedicated, eight-day C-37A expedition to Southwest Asia in support of the U.S. Transportation Command. During its successful 13-leg, nearly 45-hour journey last winter, the 310th flew into a combat zone, encountered heavy snow flurries and low visibility, and faced the threat of small-arms fire. The mission required 30 diplomatic clearances through 23 countries.
Awardees and runners-up received take-home trophies and certificates. Each winner also had its name engraved on a permanent Gulfstream-commissioned trophy, an 80-pound, original artist-designed brass sculpture, which will remain on permanent display at Gulfstream headquarters.
