Professional Pilot, October 2018

PROFESSIONAL PILOT October 2018 109 manship early in 1956 Tom Sr passed away June 19 1956 only months after his son took the helm of a young but vibrant IBM Watson bought the companys 1st corporate airplane in 1958 an Aero Commander More capable aircraft followed including the first GII in 1967 as well as Learjets Falcons and Sabreliners The fleet grew in size and complexity and his passion for aviation ensured the flight department was at the cutting edge Watson recognized from his travels to the Soviet Union with General Bradley that only a purpose built aircraft could support a global organization His foresight helped solidify the early efforts by then AMD Falcons Gulfstreams and other business aircraft to provide these new tools that shaped and defined what we know now as the corporate aircraft industry Watson suffered a heart attack in 1971 and turned over the reins of IBM to his successor but his personal life and philanthropic efforts did not slow down whatsoever In 1975 he established an aircraft museum of fully operational aircraft including WWII fighters in upstate Maine and he flew them all himself Annually he would invite celebrities and fellow airmen for a summer fly in and everyone had a chance to fly everything His chief pilot flew the aircraft for non pilots and others like famous aviation author Ernie Gann who came every year and happily flew everything he could during the 3 day event The museum operated until 1995 Watson was invited to serve as Ambassador to the Soviet Union by President Jimmy Carter and he held the post from 1979 until 1981 During his posting Mikhail Gorbachev granted the unusual permission for Watson to pilot his own jet aircraft across the entirety of the USSR at a time when no non commercial aircraft were allowed to transit the Soviet airspace Watsons philanthropic activities were generous to his alma mater Brown University and he also gave to Columbia and there established the Watson House Columbia supports and finances an annual trip for members of the Watson House to visit the Watson Estate in Maine We may well take for granted today the business of flying brilliant and imaginative men and women in our corporate aircraft But much of our success in business aviation and that of our corporate parents can be traced to the foresight and fundamental understanding of aviation by Tom Watson Jr and a rare few others like him Resembling his abilities to foresee the use of computers and the importance of technology at IBM he was able to see how the dedicated corporate aircraft could benefit the fiduciary function of shareholder growth and long term prosperity for company and employee alike When he passed away in 1993 he had accumulated 17300 flight hours This figure is remarkable for any full time airman flying a long career but nearly unthinkable for a businessman who simultaneously ran one of the worlds most respected and profitable companies Men like Tom Watson Jr remain few and far between and we are fortunate as fellow airmen to see a life so magnificently well lived by a passionate and dedicated brother pilot David Bjellos is the Aviation Manager for Florida Crystals flying a GIV SP S 76C and Bell 407 He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Helicopter Association International HAI Watson Jr with Pres Jimmy Carter January 20 1978 He was United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union IBMs 1st Chief Pilot Charles McKinnon circa 1958 with Aero Commander 520 Chuck came from United Airlines and was the last living member of the Tracy Aces a group of airmen who trained in Tracy CA during 1940 and 1941 When Chuck passed away in 2017 he was 101 years old He was married to Janice Barden who founded Aviation Personnel International API Photo at right shows of Chuck in 2003