Gulfstream Aerospace last week announced the promotion of company veteran Larry Flynn to president, a move that will take effect next month. Flynn will replace another Gulfstream veteran, Joe Lombardo, as president, though Lombardo won’t be going far. He will continue to oversee Gulfstream, along with Jet Aviation, as vice president for parent company General Dynamics.
Flynn’s promotion comes on the eve of certifications for two huge programs. The company expects certification soon for the super-midsize and recently renamed G280. It is also on the cusp of certification for the Gulfstream G650, an ultra-long-range intercontinental business jet that, despite the loss of a test aircraft and four Gulfstream employees last year, ranks as the most successful launch in Gulfstream history. The company reportedly has more than 200 orders for the $65 million jet. Flynn’s ascendancy was a surprise and comes on the heels of a very successful quarter for Gulfstream but recent poor financial performance by Jet Aviation and its aircraft interior and avionics completions business.
