Helped Make 'Learjet' A Household Word

For many years, the term "Learjet" was synonymous with business aviation. The man largely credited with making that connection was Jim Greenwood, a former PR Director for Bill Lear. ANN has learned that Greenwood passed away last Friday in Green Valley, AZ at the age of 91.

Greenwood worked for three decades in the business. Air Capital Insider reports that he began his career in 1955 at Beech Aircraft Corp, and moved to Bill Lear's operation in 1964. The Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame credits Greenwood with making the Learjet the most popular business jet of that decade.

Greenwood took his PR skills to the FAA in his home town of Washington, D.C. in 1970 as the Director of Public Affairs, but later returned to Gates Learjet, retiring from the company in 1985.

Greenwood was also a pilot who began flying at the age of 16. He was  parachute rigger during WWII, and wrote three books on aviation topics.

Funeral arrangements for Jim Greenwood are pending, and a memorial service is planned for the spring of 2012, though no firm date has been announced.

FMI: www.kansasaviationmuseum.org/hall.php