Citation Jet Pilots Names Sam Williams as 2015 Hall of Honor Inductee
CJP HEADQUARTERS, ENTERPRISE, FL (June 16, 2015) - Aeronautical innovator Dr. Sam Williams, founder of Williams International and developer of turbofan engines powering a variety of Citation light jet aircraft, will be inducted into the Citation Jet Pilots Owner Pilot Association (CJP) Hall of Honor during a ceremony at the 2015 CJP Convention taking place Sept. 9-13 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO.
"On behalf of CJP, I am pleased to recognize Dr. Sam Williams as our 2015 Hall of Honor inductee," said CJP Chairman Mark Aloe. "Williams engines have been a vital and storied part of the Citation legacy for more thAn 20 years, contributing directly to the diversity, efficiency and safety of the CitationJet fleet."
In 1955, after leaving his position as a mechanical engineer at Chrysler Corporation, Dr. Williams formed the Williams Research Corporation to develop small gas-turbine engines with performance comparable to larger turbines. The company’s engines have seen extensive use in military aviation applications over the past six decades, including drones, cruise missiles, and small, manned vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platforms.
Recognizing a need for light, fuel-efficient turbines to power general aviation (GA) aircraft, beginning in the early 1980s Williams expanded on the company's military efforts to produce turbofan engines for the civilian market. In 1992, the company - since renamed Williams International - earned FAA certification for the twin-spool FJ44-1A for use in the Cessna Model 525 CitationJet (CJ).
Today, variants of the FJ44 power the Cessna CJ, CJ1, CJ1+, CJ2, CJ2+, CJ3, CJ3+, CJ4 and M2, as well as GA aircraft from other manufacturers and retrofitters. The engine has also been used on aircraft developed by storied aviation engineer Burt Rutan, including the Scaled Composites Triumph and Proteus, and the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer.
Dr. Williams, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 88, received several honors throughout his extensive career including the 1978 Collier Trophy, the 1988 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 1995. He was an inductee into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the National Inventors Hall, and throughout his life contributed funding for medical research into treatments for cancer and degenerative eye disease.
"I am humbled and grateful to CJP for recognizing my father with this achievement," said Williams International Chairman, President and CEO Gregg Williams, who will accept the award during the CJP ceremony. "It’s reasonable to say that neither the FJ44 nor the CitationJet could have existed without the other, and everyone at Williams International is proud of the 10 million hours flown safely by Williams-powered Citations."
Established in 2012, the CJP Hall of Honor recognizes the individuals whose efforts directly contributed to bringing the Citation dream to reality. Cessna Aircraft Company Chairman Emeritus Russell W. Meyer Jr., the "Father of the Citation Program," was the inaugural inductee, with 43-year veteran Cessna engineer Bruce Peterman inducted in 2013. The 2014 inductee was golfing legend, accomplished aviator, and storied Citation program contributor and pilot Arnold Palmer.
About CJP:
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 wide range of educational, networking, and social benefits all with the common goal of helping each member get the most out of their Cessna Citation. An annual convention features top-tier educators and experts, world-renowned aviation luminaries, as well as opportunities for networking with Citation owners from around the world. Regional events, a robust Web site with resources and discussion boards, and significant discounts with major aviation companies are among the other benefits members receive. In addition, CJP is developing the Russ Meyer Citation Library, which will be the Citation community’s most extensive depository of Citation knowledge, technical data and expertise. Finally, the CJP Hall of Honor, presented at the Annual Convention recognizes the contributions of Cessna Citation heroes and legends. Past recipients are Cessna Chairman Emeritus Russ Meyer, Jr., retired Citation design master and company leader Bruce Petermen, and golfing legend and renowned Citation pilot Arnold Palmer. For more information, visit www.citationjetpilots.com.
