Episode 51 - Ron Gordon Founder of American Turbine and Dominator Jet Pumps

In 1989, Ron Gordon, along with his childhood friend Bruce Simmons, launched American Turbine, drawing on decades of expertise in the jet drive industry. Ron's journey with jet pumps began in 1968 when he started working on his family’s Glastron V174 jet boat. Gordon’s professional path in the industry took off in 1976 when he and Simmons established Dominator Jet in Lubbock, Texas. After operating the business for 12 years, they decided to sell Dominator. Gordon continued to manage the company for a few years before he and Simmons moved on to create American Turbine. Starting from scratch, Gordon designed American Turbine jets, incorporating innovative features and time-tested ideas from his experience at Dominator. He introduced several key industry advancements, including the shouldered wear ring, Energizer kits, and impeller sizes ranging from AA to 9½ inches. American Turbine also became the first to offer high-performance intakes, high-flow bowls, and precision investment cast impellers. In 1993, Gordon sold American Turbine to Travis Garske, owner of Travis Pattern & Foundry (TP&F). This partnership ensured that TP&F's aluminum foundry and CNC machine shop maintained the highest standards of production. Gordon remains personally involved in the machining and hand-finishing of every impeller, stressing the importance of precision and craftsmanship that machines alone cannot achieve. Under Gordon’s guidance, American Turbine has continued to push the boundaries of innovation, acquiring Dominator Jet in 1998 and Legend Jet in 2007. With over 48 years of experience, Gordon and his skilled team continue to lead the jet drive industry, delivering unparalleled quality and expertise.