The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Thomas Sim Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10133
Alan Renga
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
12/05/2014
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Thomas Sim III Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10133
Physical Description:
0.14 Cubic Feet
one box 12" x 10" x 2"
Date (inclusive): 1939-1966
Abstract: Thomas Sim, III was born February 23, 1921. He would work for Canadair and Rockwell International. He also was a member of
the Utility Airplane Council.
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
Thomas Sim, III was born February 23, 1921 in Montreal (Quebec Province), Canada. In 1939, upon graduation from Westmont High
School in Montreal, Sim enlisted in the Canadian Army, from which he received a medical discharge in 1941. From 1941-1945,
Sim served in the Royal Air Force and was assigned to the Ferry Command with liaison duties between R.A.F. and the U.S. Army
Air Corps.
After the war, Sim worked in sales at Canadair and Air Carrier Service Corporation. In 1959, he was named export sales manager
for the Oklahoma City-based Aero Commander, a subsidiary of Rockwell-Standard (became Rockwell international in 1973). He
was named director of marketing in 1960, and director of international sales in 1963.
Sim was a member of the Utility Airplane Council of the Aerospace Industries Association. The association was comprised of
a majority of the aerospace manufacturers, and the council was a subgroup comprised of general aviation airframe and engine
manufacturers. In 1963 and 1964, he was appointed to the Oklahoma Export Expansion Council, which focused on the advancement
of the developing General Aviation industry.
The collection contains one box 12x10x2, of industry-related articles and presentations from the early 1960s, along with speeches
made by Sim. Some of the presentations were given by others and sent to him.
Rockwell International and Canadair Subject Files.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Canadair Limited
Aero Commander Inc.
North American-Rockwell airplanes
Aerospace Industries Association of America. Utility Airplane Council
Sim, Thomas
Box 01
Folder 02 – Speeches by Sim
Physical Description: 1. Script for speech entitled “General Aviation: A Vital Factor in the Transportation System.” (No indication of audience
or date.)
2. Script for speech about general aviation and commerce. (No indication of audience or date.)
3. Script for speech to World Trade Seminar (Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce), May 20, 1964, includes notations written
by Sim in ink.
4. Script for speech about the Aero Commander Division of Rockwell-Standard. (Given in Paris, France, 1965. No indication
of audience or date. Based on a comment in another speech, possibly the Paris Air Show.)
5. Script for statement before the Senate Committee on Commerce, March 17, 1965.
6. Script for speech about the Utility Airplane Council of the Aerospace Industries Association of America, given to the Alberta
Aviation Council, November 13, 1965, includes notations written by Sim in ink.
7. Script for speech about the importance of utility aircraft manufacturers, also known as general aviation, includes notations
written by Sim in ink. (No indication of audience or date.)
8. Script for speech about Aero Commander, includes notation written by Sim in ink. (No indication of audience or date.)
Folder 03 - Publications by or about Rockwell-Standard
Physical Description: 1. The Magic of Aero Design, by, Thomas J. Harris. A publication summarizing the history of Aero Commander, presented at the
Newcomen Society dinner, May 10, 1962.
2. Memorandum from Brown Sanderson regarding five year pin award for Thomas Harris, executive vice-president and general manager
of Aero Commander, July 6, 1962.
3. Col. Willard F. Rockwell, “Are We Losing Our Freedoms?” Flow Line, May 1964. (Flow Line was Rockwell publication.)
4. Script for speech by Col. Willard Rockwell at General Electric Forum in Washington, D.C., September 8, 1962.
5. Script for speech given to Aero Commander domestic distributors, May 25, 1963. Note indicates read by Sim. (No indication
of presenter.)
6. Script of Speech entitled “Corporate Kiwis” by Thomas J. Harris, Vice President and General Manager of Aero Commander.
(No indication of audience or date.)
7. Internal analysis of industry and Rockwell-Standard aircraft divisions, November 22, 1966.
Folder 04 - Speeches by Representatives of the Aerospace Industries Council
Physical Description: 1. Speech entitled “General Aviation ¬– What is it and why important to you,” by Thomas T. Geuting, Jr., manager Utility Airplane
Council Aerospace Industries Association. NAEC Meeting, Miami Beach, July 10, 1963.
2. Aerospace Industries Association of America, Inc. Export Committee Meeting Minutes, March 18-19, 1964.
3. Aerospace Industries Association of America, Inc. memorandum and speech, “General Aviation ¬– It’s Importance and Future”,
by Thomas T. Geuting, Jr., manager Utility Airplane Council. Speech was given to Eighteenth Air Transport Management Institute
at The American University.
4. Cover memo to Utility Airplane Council, Speech entitled “Transportation, Communications and World Peace,” given by Thomas
T. Geuting, Jr., manager Utility Airplane Council. Speech was given to Board of Directors of Regis College. Photocopy of news
article. “Technology Cited for Peace”, The Denver Post, January 8, 1965.
5. Cover memo. Speech by R.V. Reynolds, assistant administrator, FAA, to the Society of Automotive Engineering, March 31,
1966.
Folder 05 - Miscellaneous Articles
Physical Description: 1. Memo to Sim from E.P, Blanchard, Jr., advertising sales manager for Aviation Week and & Space Technology. Brochure by Aviation
Week and & Space Technology.
2. Brochure: The Aerospace Industry and National Responsibilities
3. “7 Steps To Do Business with Army Aviation,” Business/Commercial Aviation, November, 1962.
4. Glore Forgan, Wm. R. Stats Inc., memo about general aviation demand and production forecasts.