Coppi Copping Meritorious Service Award

Say Gulfstream and many think of Charles Coppi, former senior VP and chief engineer at the manufacturer. Coppi has been associated with Gulfstreams for over 40 years. In recognition of his significant and identifiable contributions to aviation, Coppi has been selected to receive the NBAA's 1998 Meritorious Service to Aviation Award.

Coppi was part of the design team that introduced the turboprop-powered Gulfstream 1. When Grumman moved its business production line to Savannah in 1967, Coppi was instrumental in designing the production flow for the Gulfstream II. He later led the design team on the Gulfstream III, and, in the 1980s, he headed up the design of the Gulfstream IV. Coppi later served as an advisor on Gulfstream V development.

"Charles Coppi is being honored not only for his leadership role in designing Gulfstream aircraft, but also his personal pioneering contribution to the worldwide advancement of business aviation," said Gulfstream president and CEO Bill Boisture.