Now, we have something to back up our boast.

Aviation consultant and GT-AE alumnus Gary Weissel has gifted his alma mater with two first-classcommercial airplane seats, each specially emblazoned with the school's name and the Institute's trademark campanile. 

"I'd always wanted to see if I could do something like this," said Weissel, the managing officer for Tronos Aviation Consulting, Inc., a Woodstock-based company.

"So I asked my friend, Scott Greenbaum [of Signature Aerospace] if he could come up with some seats that we could upgrade to give to Georgia Tech. The seats he procured were designed in the mid-late 90’s for Delta’s 737-800’s. I was actually the Delta product manager at the time this seat was developed, so it was actually my seat program."

Another GT alum, the late  Christina [Olson] Tredway, BIE '92, was responsible for the seat cover design.

"She was the interiors engineer at Delta back then," he said. "Another Tech grad I worked with."

The fully reclining leather thrones provide unprecedented luxury for visitors to Montgomery Knight 301 - home of the communications, development, and academic advising manger's offices. But don't look for any hot towels or foie gras on the tray tables.

"The trays are perfect for students filling out registration forms or checking their homework," said William R. T. Oakes Professor and school chair Dr. Vigor Yang.

"These are working seats."

Brand new, Weissel estimates the seats would cost around $8K -$10K. In their current installation, they are a priceless (and practical!) reminder of alumni innovation, support, and humor.

"I’m absolutely thrilled that the School likes the seats and hope that they bring enjoyment and are a topic of discussion for students, alumni and staff for years to come," said Weissel.