Jetrader - Summer 2014 - 41

Brownline and Transequip he had always
worked hard at knowing what was going on
everywhere in the aviation industry, and
getting to know everyone in the business,
at all levels. Now he could continue to
exchange news and views with those people
and more, and attend industry meetings
and conferences. But the newsletter still
had to go out every Thursday evening! In
all this he was helped enormously by Ann,
always at his side in the home and at work;
she worked tirelessly for SpeedNews, as well
as bringing up Lizzy and Joanna.

The new venture struggled for several
years to attract enough subscribers, so Gil
didn't give up his other activities for a while.
Back-page advertising revenue had been
spasmodic, but the day he hit on the idea of
selling individual line items of aircraft available for sale or lease was the turning point
for the fortunes of SpeedNews. And then
later to launch his own annual conference
with the industry in one of its low phases
was a gamble, but prescient nevertheless.
The rest is history. I will miss him
no end.

Aircraft being retired?
Assets coming off lease?
We want to be your ﬁrst call !

After retirement, Gil Speed served on the
boards of several companies, but he still
found time to devote to horseback riding.

Gil was always interested in everything,
looking for different ways of doing things,
questioning we've-always-done-it-this-way
attitudes, and open to adopting and adapting new technologies. Watching him trying
to type in the '70s was a painful experience,
but with the arrival of computers he put
himself through class and became quite an
accomplished typist, and quite computer
savvy. He was also very keen on talking to
the younger generation entering the industry, to find out what motivated them, and to
advise and encourage them in their careers.
November 1978 was a fateful month for
the Speeds. I happened to be staying at their
home. One evening Gil walked into the room
and said to nobody in particular, "What this
industry needs is a newsletter-for suppliers," who didn't have time to plough through
the numerous trade magazines every week.
Within three days he had come up with the
SpeedNews name and font, a three-page format, the now almost-forgotten green paper
and envelopes, and the first issue: Friday,
24 November 1978, 44 one- or two-line items,
nothing on the back pages. [Look at some
of the item lead-in names: Wardair, Braniff,
BWIA, Trans International, Allegheny, Pan
Am, Flying Tigers, Cargomatic, Douglas,
Seaboard World, and... ILFC, which had just
ordered three 737-200s and one 727-200.]
This fortuitous career change was
heaven-sent. Gil was in his element. At

Contrail Aviation Support, Inc. is a leading, worldwide supplier of surplus
and aftermarket commercial jet engine components. We are continuously
reviewing acquisition opportunities and offering cost effective, end of life
strategies for our business partners.
Asset Acquisition:
Resources and experience to
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assumption.
Contact Ken De Jaeger at
ken@contrail.com or Joe Kuhn at
joe@contrail.com to discuss options
for your CFM56/V2500 engines
and/or 737 & A320 aircraft.

Engines & Aircraft:

Engine Part Sales:

* CFM56-3/-5/-7

* Relevant Inventory

* V2500A5

* Competitive Pricing

* Boeing 737 Classic/737 NG

* Unequaled Quality

* Airbus A320

* Excellent Customer
Service

"Building lasting relationships with asset owners
one aircraft, one engine at a time"

"Set Your
Expectations High"

ACCREDITED

AIRLINE SUPPLIERS
A S S O C I A T I O N

435 Investment Court, Verona, WI 53593 * (608) 848-8100 * www.contrail.com

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Jetrader - Summer 2014

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