Rolls-Royce Marks 50 Year Partnership with Gulfstream with New Scholarship Program

SAVANNAH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rolls-Royce, the world leader in engines for the business jet market, today marked 50 years of partnership with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation - the longest partnership in business aviation - by establishing a 50^th Anniversary Partnership Scholarship Program for eligible children of Gulfstream’s employees.

Under the terms of this new Scholarship Program, Rolls-Royce will provide an annual stipend of $1,500 for each of the winners’ four years of college.

This Scholarship Program is offered through the National Merit Scholarship Program, an annual academic competition open to all US high school students who meet published participation requirements. The National Merit Scholarship Program is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Candidates for the 50^th Anniversary Scholarship Program must meet all eligibility requirements as defined by NMSC and have a parent employed by Gulfstream. Winners are determined by NMSC and are judged to have the strongest combination of academic skills and achievements, extracurricular accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

The new Scholarship Program was announced at a ceremony in Savannah, GA, celebrating the two companies’ long-standing success in the corporate aircraft market.

Over the past five decades, Rolls-Royce has been relied upon to deliver power and services for thirteen high-performance Gulfstream business jets and has delivered more than 3,500 Dart, Spey, Tay and BR710 engines. No other civil aerospace customer has received more engines from Rolls-Royce, which is a testament to the strength of the partnership.

Gulfstream’s first business aircraft, the GI, made its maiden flight powered by Rolls-Royce Dart engines more than fifty years ago. This twin-engine turboprop was the first aircraft specifically designed for business travel. This year, the two companies continued the legacy of establishing new milestones in style with the unveiling of the latest, all-new business jet, the Rolls-Royce BR725-powered Gulfstream G650.

Speaking at the celebration ceremony, James M. Guyette, President & CEO, Rolls-Royce North America said: “We are honored to have this successful partnership with Gulfstream – at 50 years, the longest in business aviation. The scholarship program we’re announcing today honors our shared history and looks to a shared future, through the next generation. Rolls-Royce was there from the very beginning with Gulfstream and we’ll be here for the future as we continue this historical partnership.”

Joe Lombardo, President, Gulfstream said: “We are delighted to celebrate this milestone with Rolls-Royce and appreciate the scholarship in its honor. Our partnership has combined expertise and technology to achieve numerous milestones and world records, which will extend to the next generation of Gulfstream business aircraft.”

Notes to Editors:

	1.		Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced some 1,800 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200®; the new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G250®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350®; the large-cabin, long-range G450®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550® and the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 9,700 people at seven major locations. We invite you to visit our Web site for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at: www.gulfstream.com.
	2.		General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 91,200 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.gd.com.
	3.		Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy.
	4.		Rolls-Royce powers 15 different in-service business jet types* in a fleet of 2,100 aircraft. Over one third of this fleet is covered by a long-term maintenance agreement with Rolls-Royce.
	5.		In recent years, Rolls-Royce has powered four high-performance Gulfstream business jets into service – the ultra-long-range G550 (2003), the G500 (2004) and the large-cabin, mid-range G350, together with the long-range G450, both in 2005. Gulfstream aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce are:
			Dart - GI
			Spey - GII, GIII
			Tay 611-8 - GIV, GIV–SP (later G300/G400)
			Tay 611-8C - G350, G450
			BR710 - GV, G500, G550
			BR725 – G650
	6.		A significant and growing industry player in North America, Rolls-Royce employs nearly 8,000 people at more than 66 US locations in 26 states and seven sites in six Canadian provinces. In 2007, sales in North America exceeded $3.9 billion.
	7.		Rolls-Royce North America is a socially responsible corporate citizen and a good neighbor. The company and its employees actively support their local communities. In 2007, the organization contributed nearly $1 million to philanthropic organizations and activities in the region.

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