NBAA's Tribute

James B. Taylor, one of the business aviation community's founding leaders, died last week at the age of 81 after a long illness. Taylor was the 1992 recipient of NBAA's Award for Meritorious Service to Aviation, the highest honor the Association can bestow to individuals who have made significant, identifiable contributions to aviation over the course of a lifetime, for his successful leadership in the development, manufacture, marketing and support of business aircraft.

His career included senior management and marketing positions at Pan Am's Falcon Division, Cessna, Canadair and Gates Learjet. His business acumen helped make these companies world leaders in the industry.

NBAA extends condolences to his family and friends.

Cirrus Added:

Cirrus asked Taylor to join the team in 1997 where he sat on the ”Advisory Committee,” and then on the company's Board of Directors until the Fall of 2001. At that time, Cirrus was looking for equity financing, and Jim was instrumental in introducing Cirrus and CEO Alan Klapmeier to the movers and shakers. He became a mentor to Cirrus, and certainly to Alan Klapmeier. Klapmeier stated,  "We were saddened to hear the news about Jim; he was a great friend of Cirrus. Conversations with him were always thought-provoking and insightful, and his perspectives always valuable." Another at Cirrus added, "Mr. Taylor was pure class."

[Our thanks to VisionAire, for the 1998 photo of Mr Taylor (center) with VisionAire's Jim Rice (left) and NBAA's John Olcott]