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What Did Neil Armstrong Really Think Of Business Jets?

Business Aviation

Astronaut Neil Armstrong (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Former Astronaut Neil Armstrong, passed away last weekend at age 82. Armstrong's death is poignant for all of us and particularly those in the aerospace world. Of the billions of people who preceded him on this planet he became the first human to set foot on the moon, a truly remarkable and spectacular achievement for mankind.

As a U.S. Naval aviator, Armstrong was a decorated Korean fighter pilot. Later, he flew high altitude missions for NASA in the supersonic X-15, and in a less publicized part of his professional life he was an advocate for business aviation. Less publicized because that’s just the way he conducted his life – never really seeking the public attention that invariably came his way due to his stellar career accomplishments.

I was fortunate to share time with him in the back of a Learjet on several occasions as we traveled to Gates Learjet board meetings where he served on the board of directors. I was also privileged to work with him on a special project while he set several world records at the controls of the first business jet to be certified for flight at 51,000 feet.

While I performed tough assignments like handing out motel room keys to our group staying near the famed First Flight Strip at Kitty Hawk, NC, and writing the press release, he merely set five world records in the left seat of a Learjet 28. It was early 1979, less than 10 years after he walked on the moon, and he was already established as an even-keeled aerospace statesman, more interested in advancing the technology of flight than any of the hoopla that surrounds the truly famous.

I remember he was extremely involved in the technological advancements of the industry’s first civilian use of winglets, first installed on the Learjet. He literally catapulted to 15,000 meters (49,200 ft) in fewer than 12 and a half minutes (nearly 4,000 feet/minute) for the sanctioned National Aeronautic Association world record. And he and co-pilot Pete Reynolds practiced the record attempt a number of times to perfect the flight plan.

I think he went along with letting us publicize the world records for a couple of reasons: He wanted everyone to know that high-performance business jets could help the world to become more productive, and that flying in shirtsleeves vs. a pressurized flight suit at 51,000 ft. was a supremely safe environment that could take business travelers above most bad weather. In fact, he proved that business jets performed more efficiently at such altitudes.

While Neil Armstrong will be remembered primarily for his historic first step on the moon, he also supported business aviation and used it throughout his career while he served on a number of corporate boards and conducted his professional life. The industry and the world will miss his leadership.