[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 160 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10472-S10473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION

 Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I wish to acknowledge an 
important occasion in the history of Savannah, GA, and the business-
aviation industry--the 50th anniversary of Gulfstream flight.
  Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation got its start in 1958 when Grumman 
Aircraft Engineering Company, a company known for military aircraft 
production, developed the first aircraft specifically designed for 
business travel.
  On August 14, 1958, Grumman test pilots Carl Alber and Fred Rowley 
took that aircraft--the twin-engine turboprop Gulfstream I--on its 
maiden flight over the company's headquarters in Bethpage, NY. After 
800 hours of additional testing, the G-1 received Federal Aviation 
Administration certification on May 21, 1959.

[[Page S10473]]

  The G-1 laid the foundation for the future of Gulfstream Aerospace. 
Five decades after that first flight and more than four decades after 
moving to Savannah, Gulfstream has manufactured more than 1,800 
aircraft. The company's jets have been used to train NASA crew members, 
transport top Government officials, and support our Armed Forces, 
making Gulfstream a vital part of America's aerospace industry.
  Gulfstream also plays a key role in the city of Savannah, where its 
workforce has grown from just 100 employees in 1967 to more than 6,000 
today, making it the largest manufacturing employer in the city. That 
workforce is expected to grow even more in years to come thanks to a 7-
year, $400 million-plus Long-Range Facilities Master Plan that includes 
at least 1,100 new jobs.
  I am delighted to recognize the golden anniversary of Gulfstream 
flight and to congratulate its employees on their many contributions to 
the community, the country, and the worldwide aviation industry. With 
the help of its employees, Gulfstream has become a corporate citizen of 
the highest standard. I commend Gulfstream Aerospace on all their 
achievements and look forward to their continued success in the city of 
Savannah and the great State of Georgia.

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