ENTERPRISE, Fla. — Industry leaders, government officials and aviation personalities recently joined with the Citation Jet Pilots Owner Pilot Association (CJP) in recognizing renowned golfer and pilot Arnold Palmer and Cessna Chairman Emeritus Russ Meyer for their 8,000 hours of flying time in Citation aircraft.
“These are two extraordinary Cessna jet pilots and two people who have given as much to this industry as any two people, anywhere,” noted Ed Bolen, president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) during the presentation held prior to the start of the 2014 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition Oct. 21 in Orlando.
CJP Chairman Ed Turley presented Palmer and Meyer with the special gold lapel pins, each in the image of a Citation jet and each sporting eight diamonds: one for every 1,000 hours each man logged flying Citations.
“As you all know, they are not only veterans and pioneers, but also legends,” Turley said of Meyer and Palmer. “Thank you, Arnold, for all that you have done for our organization over the years, and thank you, Russ, for building a great airplane.”
In addition to his 35-year tenure at Cessna and his work in bringing the Citation series of light jets to reality, Meyer is also a three-time chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
“During that time, [Russ] was part of every major aviation policy discussion in Washington, since the creation of the Airport and Airways Trust Fund in 1971,” Bolen added. “No individual has had a greater impact on aviation policy than Russ Meyer.”
Bolen also recognized Palmer for his work as the first spokesperson for the “No Plane No Gain” industry advocacy campaign, co-sponsored by NBAA and the GAMA.
“When our industry was knocked out and in trouble [in 2009] because people didn’t understand what we were, we needed someone with integrity and authority to speak on behalf of business aviation,” Bolen added. “The person who stood tall and resolute was Arnold Palmer.”
Also in attendance during the brief ceremony were noted aerobatic pilot Sean D. Tucker, and NBAA2014 opening general session speakers Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA-6), Acting NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart, and Enterprise Holdings CEO Andy Taylor.
Meyer was also the inaugural inductee to CJP’s Hall of Honor in 2012, and Palmer was inducted to the hall at the 2014 CJP Convention held in September at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.
The Citation Jet Pilots Owner Pilot Association is the only member organization dedicated to the ownership and operation of the Cessna Citation family of jets. Open to anyone who owns, flies or supports a Citation, the organization offers a range of educational, networking, and social benefits all with the common goal of helping each member get the most out of their Cessna Citation.
Yes, Russ Meyers the great aircraft officiator from Iowa. He was fired by Al Paulson (American Yankee Acft Co). Hired by Cessna 1974 and should have been fired within a year while Duane Wallace was still there. He chums up with Arnold Palmer who kept breaking altitudes with Lee Louderbeck ( Crazy Horse mustang) as certificated pilot in the Citation III. Palmer helped pay certification bill for Citation III. He purchased three of them.
Russ gives himself a 2 Million dollar loan ( ala Jim Bede) and implements his stock option at $1.00 per share when the market value at $16.00+. He purchased 500,000 shares and pushes Duane Wallace from Cessna along with the other VP’s. Then works merger with General Dynamics in 1981. Now stock is $32.00+ per share. Whoa, lets put 110% into our effort at the company. R.L Lewis tells him to stay on Wichita and do you job boy. You don’t have a seat on this board. I know I worked there for 14+ years.