Bill was Editor-in-Chief of Business & Commercial Aviation from 2000 to 2020. During his stewardship, the monthly magazine received scores of awards for editorial excellence.
He is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award from the National Business Aviation Association; the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Aerospace Media Awards; the Aviation Journalism Award from the National Air Transportation Association; and an Aerospace Journalist of the Year Award for Business Aviation.
Previously, Bill served as Managing Editor of Aviation Week Television. He was the top editor for both Flying and Professional Pilot magazines, as well as a member of the senior editorial staff at Reader's Digest. He also managed communications for FlightSafety International.
Bill has authored or co-authored three aviation books, was an essayist for National Public Radio, wrote aviation documentaries for The Discovery Channel and has written for numerous publications including The New York Times, Smithsonian Air & Space, Popular Mechanics and The Associated Press, among others.
An active aviator, Bill holds a Commercial Pilot license, along with multiengine, instrument, seaplane and glider ratings.
Berkshire Hathaway boss Warren Buffett wanted to stanch the flow of red ink at NetJets in a hurry (the fractional ownership business jet operator lost $711 million in 2009 before taxes) and tapped David Sokol, a no-nonsense Mr. Fix-It. Sokol, who was chairman of Berkshire subsidiary MidAmerican Energy, arrived with sabers slashing.
Small, concept airplanes often inspire big dreams, only to be dashed again and again, delivering to their hopeful backers frustration and disappointment, frequently accompanied by lawsuits and ridicule. Adam Aircraft, ATG, Avocet, Century, Safire, Visionaire are just a few of the more recent programs that have flickered, some to fly, but all to fail. Despite that sad, familiar history, the visionaries keep coming, sure that theirs is the aircraft that will soar to success. And some will.
Despite heavy rainfall and sodden fields that delayed or defeated many visitors to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual AirVenture, held July 24-Aug. 1 in Oshkosh, Wis., one of the earliest arrivals was among the more unusual at an event known for “Hey, look at that” aircraft.
