The National Business Aviation Association and Convention (NBAA) got underway officially on Tuesday morning, but by then Plane & Pilot had been on the ground for a few days, already attending briefings, interviewing major players and occasionally just sitting back and taking in the spectacle, as was the case for Gulfsteam’s spectacular unveiling of its G700 ultra-long range gem on Monday night.
There have been product announcements, program delays, star sightings, and big numbers. Here are eight of my biggest observations from the ground, so to speak, at NBAA.
I missed it, and Magic Johnsonâs keynote on Tuesday isnât online, but everybody is talking about Magic and Martha. Johnson, the 6â9â hall-of-fame basketball player who revolutionized the game in the â80s and â90s, hopped down from the stage and picked at random the shortest woman he immediately saw to showcase his great height. He just so happened to have picked out the one and only Martha King. Ed Bolen, to his everlasting credit, was immediately on it: Sheâs a hall-of-famer, too, he informed Magic, who was surprised by the news. For the record, Martha (along with her fellow hall of fame King Schools partner and husband John King), has revolutionized flight training and ushered it into the digital age. Great vision, Magic!
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