Robert Gustafson's Personal Sabreliner Goes To Western Michigan University

Aviation enthusiast and Detroit-area executive Robert Gustafson has donated his personal Sabreliner jet aircraft to Western Michigan University's College of Aviation.

WMU alumnus Gustafson, a Pontiac (MI) resident, traveled to the college's facilities at W.K. Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek today for a formal presentation of the aircraft to college officials. The ceremony was preceded by a flyover, as Gustafson and WMU's Capt. Steve Jones completed a fly-by and landed the aircraft at the college. Capt. Rick Maloney, dean of the College of Aviation, and Gustafson made brief remarks during the short ceremony.

The Sabre 60 Gustafson donated was previously owned by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus. It will be used by the college as a maintenance technology training device, allowing students a hands-on opportunity to become familiar with the maintenance needs of the type of jet widely used for executive travel in the United States. The aircraft is part of the Sabreliner family of aircraft, which has been known for dependable, fast and comfortable executive transportation since 1963, when the company offered the first twin-engine business jet.

"This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students and will enhance our training capacity immensely in this high-demand arena," Maloney says. "It means so much when someone with Mr. Gustafson's track record in and love for aviation makes the kind of gift that will pay dividends to aviation students for years to come. He's shown us his heart is really with young people who are headed for aviation careers."

Gustafson is CEO and chairman of Hubert Distributors Inc., the Anheuser-Busch Beer distributor for Oakland County. He also is on the Michigan Business Aviation Association's Board of Directors. An experienced aviator, he has amassed more than 20,000 hours in all types of single- and multi-engine aircraft, including the Sabre 60.

www.wmich.edu