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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

Willis Lease Finance Corporation
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 
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WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION

NOTICE OF 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on May 22, 2008

To our Stockholders:

        You are cordially invited to attend the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION, which will be held at our executive offices, 773 San Marin Drive, Suite 2215, Novato, California, 94998 at 2:00 p.m. local time on May 22, 2008, for the following purposes:

        These matters are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this Notice.

        The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 24, 2008 as the record date for determining those stockholders who will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. The stock transfer books will not be closed between the record date and the date of the meeting.

        A quorum comprising the holders of the majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock on the record date must be present or represented for the transaction of business at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Accordingly, it is important that your shares be represented at the meeting. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE, to ensure that your shares will be voted at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. You may revoke your proxy at any time prior to the time it is voted.

        The Proxy material is being delivered to you on or about May 1, 2008. Please read the proxy material carefully. Your vote is important, and we appreciate your cooperation in considering and acting on the matters presented.

April 29, 2008


WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION

PROXY STATEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   Page
SOLICITATION AND VOTING OF PROXIES   1
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD   2
PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF CLASS I DIRECTORS   5
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION   6
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT   7
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE   8
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS—COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS   9
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE   18
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION   19
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE   19
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS   20
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION   21
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS   21
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH   22
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS   22
STOCKHOLDERS SHARING THE SAME LAST NAME AND ADDRESS   23
OTHER MATTERS   23

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You should read the entire proxy
statement carefully prior to returning your proxy

PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
OF
WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
To Be Held on May 22, 2008


SOLICITATION AND VOTING OF PROXIES

General

        This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors (also referred to as the "Board") of WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION ("we," "us," "our," "Willis Lease" or the "Company") of proxies to be voted at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be held at 2:00 p.m. local time on May 22, 2008 at our executive offices, located at 773 San Marin Drive, Suite 2215, Novato, California 94998, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

        This proxy statement is being mailed to stockholders on or about May 1, 2008. Our 2007 Annual Report is being mailed to stockholders concurrently with this proxy statement. You should not regard the 2007 Annual Report as proxy soliciting material or as a communication by means of which any solicitation of proxies is to be made.

Voting

        The close of business on March 24, 2008 is the record date for determining whether you in your capacity as a stockholder are entitled to notice of and to vote at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. As of that date, we had 8,642,885 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, issued and outstanding. All of the shares of our common stock outstanding on the record date are entitled to vote at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If you are entitled to vote at the meeting, you will have one vote for each share of common stock you hold with regard to each matter to be voted upon.

        The required quorum for the meeting is a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock eligible to be voted on the matters to be considered at the meeting. In the election for directors (Proposal 1), the nominees for Class I Directors receiving the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected.

        Shares of our common stock represented by proxies on the accompanying proxy card, which are properly executed and returned to us, will be voted at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in accordance with the instructions you mark on the proxy card. If you do not mark any instructions on the proxy card, your shares represented by the proxy card will be voted for the election of the Board's nominees as Class I Directors.

        If a properly signed proxy or ballot indicates that you abstain from voting or that your shares are not to be voted on a particular proposal, your shares will not be counted as having been voted on that proposal, although your shares will be counted as being in attendance at the meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Broker non-votes (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees as to which instructions have not been received from beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote that the broker or nominee does not have discretionary power to vote on a particular matter) are counted

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towards a quorum, but are not counted for any purpose in determining whether a matter has been approved by a majority of the shares represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote.

        Our management does not know of any matters to be presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders other than those set forth in this proxy statement and in the Notice accompanying this proxy statement. If other matters should properly come before the meeting, the proxy holders will vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.

Revocability of Proxies

        If you give a proxy in the form accompanying this proxy statement, you have the right to revoke it at any time before it is voted at the meeting. You may revoke your proxy by:

Solicitation

        This solicitation is made by our Board of Directors on our behalf. The entire cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the Notice of 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card, and of soliciting proxies, will be paid by us. Proxies will be solicited principally through the use of the mails, but, if we desire, we may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, electronic mail or special letter by our officers and our regular employees for no additional compensation. We have retained American Stock Transfer & Trust and ADP Investor Communication Services to aid in the solicitation at an estimated cost to us of approximately $7,750 plus out-of-pocket expenses.


INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AND THE COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

Board of Directors

        Our Bylaws authorize us to have five Directors. At the present time, the Board consists of five Directors who are divided into three classes: Class I (two Directors), Class II (two Directors) and Class III (one Director). One class is elected each year for a three-year term. Gérard Laviec, W. William Coon, Jr., Hans J. Hunziker and Robert T. Morris are independent directors, as defined in the Nasdaq listing standard.

        Our business, property and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board. Directors are kept informed of our business through discussions with our President and Chief Executive Officer and our other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees. The Board held a total of five meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. Each incumbent director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of: (i) the total number of meetings of the Board; and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all Committees of the Board on which he served.

Communications with the Board

        You may communicate with the Board of Directors by sending a letter to: Board of Directors, Willis Lease Finance Corporation, c/o Office of the Corporate Secretary, 773 San Marin Drive, Suite 2215, Novato, California 94998. Our Office of the Corporate Secretary will receive your correspondence and forward it to the Board of Directors or to any individual director or directors to whom your communication is directed, unless the communication is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal,

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does not reasonably relate to us or our business, or is similarly inappropriate. The Office of the Corporate Secretary has the authority to discard any inappropriate communications or to take other appropriate actions with respect to any such inappropriate communications.

Attendance at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders

        Mr. Willis attended the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; our other directors did not attend. We have no policy requiring board members to attend our annual meeting.

Committees of the Board

        The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee, both currently comprised solely of independent directors, as defined by the Nasdaq listing standard.

        The Nasdaq's listing rules require that our Audit Committee be composed of at least three independent directors.

        The Board does not have a nominating committee or committee performing the functions of such a committee. The Board has determined that the function of a nominating committee is adequately fulfilled by the independent directors. It has not established such a committee and therefore has no nominating committee charter. The full Board of Directors participates in the consideration of director nominee.

        Although we have not formally set any specific minimum qualifications that director nominees must possess, we look for candidates with the appropriate experience in aviation and leasing, a strong professional background, and a general understanding of marketing, finance and other disciplines related to the success of a company in our industry. Our directors are generally nominated by our management or other directors, and each nominee is evaluated based on the above qualifications and in the context of the Board as a whole. While we do not normally engage professional search firms or other third parties in connection with our Board nomination process, we may do so in the future.

        Since we do not have a history of stockholder nominations of directors, we do not have a formal policy regarding stockholder nominees to the Board. Under our Bylaws, stockholders wishing to nominate a candidate for director must give notice to our Corporate Secretary no later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of our preceding year's annual meeting. If the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or 60 days after such anniversary date, the notice must be delivered no later than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which we publicly announce of the annual meeting date. The notice should set forth: (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of the nominee; (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the nominee; (iii) the class and number of our shares beneficially owned by the nominee; (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and the nominee and any other person(s) pursuant to which the nomination is made by the stockholder; and (v) any other information relating to the nominee that is required to be disclosed in proxy statements for the election of directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Nominees proposed by stockholders will be evaluated in the same manner as those proposed by management or existing directors.

        The Audit Committee oversees our accounting function, internal controls and financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. The Audit Committee meets with our financial management and our independent auditors to review our financial statements and filings, the audit and matters arising from them, and financial reporting procedures, including any significant judgments made in preparation of the financial statements. The Audit Committee currently consists of Directors Robert T. Morris (Chairman), Hans J. Hunziker and Gérard Laviec. All members of the audit committee are able to read and understand financial statements. Mr. Morris also qualifies as an audit committee financial

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expert, as defined by the SEC, and is financially sophisticated as required by the Nasdaq listing standards. The Committee held four meetings during the 2007 fiscal year. On May 17, 2004 the Board reviewed and reapproved (originally approved on June 13, 2000) the Audit Committee Charter dated June 13, 2000 that meets the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nasdaq. The Audit Committee's charter is available on the Company's web site (www.willislease.com).

        The Compensation Committee reviews and approves our compensation arrangements for executive officers and administers the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan. The Compensation Committee currently consists of Directors Gérard Laviec (Chairman), W. William Coon, Jr. and Robert T. Morris. This Committee held five meetings during the 2007 fiscal year. For additional details, see "Compensation of Executive Officers—Compensation Discussion and Analysis" elsewhere in this proxy statement.

Director Compensation

        For details regarding director compensation, see "Compensation of Executive Officers—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Director Compensation" elsewhere in this proxy statement.

Biographical Information

 
   Director
Since
   Age*
Class I Directors Whose Terms Expire at the 2011 Annual Meeting:        
Robert T. Morris   2006   59
W. William Coon, Jr.    2003   68
Class II Directors Whose Terms Expire at the 2009 Annual Meeting:        
Hans J. Hunziker   2006   58
Gérard Laviec   2002   68
Class III Director Whose Term Expires at the 2010 Annual Meeting:        
Charles F. Willis, IV   1985   59
*
Age as of March 24, 2008.

Principal Occupations of Nominees and Continuing Directors

        Charles F. Willis, IV is the founder of Willis Lease, has served as Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director since our incorporation in 1985, and has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1996. Mr. Willis has over 40 years of experience in the aviation industry. From 1975 to 1985, Mr. Willis served as president of Willis Lease's predecessor, Charles F. Willis Company, which purchased, financed and sold a variety of large commercial transport aircraft and provided consulting services to the aviation industry. During 1974, Mr. Willis operated a small business not involved in the aviation industry. From 1972 through 1973, Mr. Willis was Assistant Vice President of Sales at Seaboard World Airlines, a freight carrier. From 1965 through 1972, he held various positions at Alaska Airlines, including positions in the departments of flight operations, sales and marketing.

        Hans J. Hunziker previously served as one of our Directors from November 2000 until July 1, 2003. He was elected a Class II Director at the 2006 Annual Meeting. Mr. Hunziker currently serves as the CEO of Hunziker Lease & Finance, a company he founded in Zug, Switzerland in 2002 which offers independent business consulting services to the aviation industry. From 1998 to 2002, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Flightlease AG Ltd., a public company involved in aircraft leasing as a subsidiary of SAirGroup whose headquarters are in Zurich, Switzerland. From 1998 to 2001, he was also co-CEO of GATX Flightlease Management GmbH, an asset management and commercial aircraft leasing company. From 1996 to 1998, he was the Chief Financial Officer of SAirServices Ltd., a group of companies including aircraft maintenance and overhaul, ground handling

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services, information technology and real estate, and Managing Director of SAirServices Invest Ltd. From 1991 to 1996, he was Chief Financial Officer of Swissair Associated Companies Ltd., a group of 150 companies, primarily in the hotel, catering (Gate Gourmet) and trading business. Mr. Hunziker holds a Masters Degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Zurich. He also received the equivalent of a doctoral degree from the University of Zurich, after successful completion of his thesis on Strategic Planning in the Airline Industry. In addition to previously serving as a director of Willis Lease Finance, he was Chairman of the Board of Flightlease Holdings (Guernsey) Limited (and a director of several of its subsidiaries in Guernsey and Bermuda), as well as Chairman of the Board of Flightlease (Netherlands) B.V., SRTechnics Group AG, SRTechnics Switzerland AG, Swisscargo AG and SAirServices Invest AG. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of FlightTechnics LLC, Delaware, Swissport Brazil Ltd., Polygon Insurance Company Ltd. and Gotland Shipping AG.

        Gérard Laviec joined our Board of Directors in February 2002. In 2001, Mr. Laviec retired from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of CFM International, a partnership between General Electric Company and SNECMA and a supplier of engines for commercial jets. Mr. Laviec joined CFM International in 1976 in its incipient phase. From 1983 to 1995, he served as General Manager in product support engineering, business operations, sales and marketing, and was named President and Chief Executive Officer of CFM International in 1995. Mr. Laviec has also served as the Chairman of the Board of Shannon Engine Support, a wholly-owned CFM International subsidiary, in Ireland since 1995. Mr. Laviec is a graduate of INSA Lyon, France with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He served in the French Air Force as a Flight Officer in Search and Rescue teams prior to joining SNECMA, and is a Knight for the French National Order of Merit.

        W. William Coon, Jr. spent 34 years at GE Aircraft Engines ("GEAE"), a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), where he served in numerous management positions. Prior to retiring from GEAE in 2000, Mr. Coon was General Manager for Small Commercial Aircraft Services. From 1984 to 1998 he served as Director of Product Support, where he was responsible for supplying global services to the company's regional airline customers. Mr. Coon holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Business Administration from Xavier University.

        Robert T. Morris is currently President of Robert Morris & Company. He joined Union Bank of California Leasing in 2004 to establish an innovative equipment leasing group, and served as its President through March 2007. Prior to joining Union Bank of California Leasing, he was a consultant to more than 25 commercial banks for their equipment leasing operations over a 12 year period. He has also worked for Bank of San Francisco, Bank of Montreal and GATX Leasing Corporation. Mr. Morris holds a Masters Degree from the American Graduate School of International Management and a Bachelors of Arts Degree from the University of Denver with majors in Economics, Political Science and History.


PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF TWO CLASS I DIRECTORS

        Our Board is divided into three classes, each class having a three-year term that expires in successive years. At the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, two Directors will be elected in Class I, to serve a three-year term expiring at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until succeeded by another qualified director who has been duly elected.

        The nominees for Director in Class I are Robert T. Morris and W. William Coon, Jr.

        The proxy holders intend to vote all proxies received by them for the foregoing nominees, unless instructions to the contrary are marked on the proxy. In the event that any nominee is unable or declines to serve as a Director at the time of the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the proxies will

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be voted for any nominee who shall be designated by the present Board to fill the vacancy. As of the date of this proxy statement, the Board is not aware of any nominee who is unable or will decline to serve as a director.

        THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES AS CLASS I DIRECTORS.


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION

        Our executive officers are as follows:

Name
   Age*
   Positions and Offices
Charles F. Willis, IV**   59   President and Chief Executive Officer
Lee G. Beaumont   50   Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Donald A. Nunemaker   60   Executive Vice President, General Manager—Leasing
Bradley S. Forsyth   42   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Thomas C. Nord   67   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
*
Age as of March 24, 2008.

**
See business experience background under "Principal Occupation of Nominees and Continuing Directors."

        Lee G. Beaumont , a 20 year veteran in the aerospace industry, joined us in 2006. He currently serves as our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Formerly, Mr. Beaumont was a consultant to The Carlyle Group of Washington, D.C. Prior to his consulting assignment, he was with Standard Aero Limited for 20 years, including four years as President of their US subsidiary. Under his leadership the company more than tripled its share of the engine remanufacturing market to 45% and generated more than $400 million in revenue. A 1997 graduate of the Stanford Executive Program, Mr. Beaumont holds both a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Manitoba. He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and has lectured at the University of Manitoba on computer accounting systems.

        Donald A. Nunemaker has been with us since July 1997 and currently serves as our Executive Vice President and General Manager—Leasing. Prior to his appointment as General Manager—Leasing, he served as Chief Operating Officer until September of 2006, and prior to that as Chief Administrative Officer until March 2001. Mr. Nunemaker also served on our Board of Directors from June to November 2000. Mr. Nunemaker is responsible for managing our day-to-day operation and has been extensively involved in the equipment leasing industry since 1973. From 1995 to 1996, Mr. Nunemaker was President and CEO of LeasePartners, Inc., a leasing company based in Burlingame, California, which was acquired in 1996 by Newcourt Credit Group. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Nunemaker was Executive Vice President of Concord Asset Management, Inc., an aircraft and computer leasing subsidiary of Concord Leasing, Inc., which was owned by the HSBC Group. Before joining Concord in 1990, Mr. Nunemaker was President and CEO of Banc One Leasing Corporation of New Jersey. Prior to that he spent thirteen years with Chase Manhattan Leasing Company in a variety of senior line and staff positions. Mr. Nunemaker has an Masters in Business Administration Degree from Indiana University.

        Bradley S. Forsyth joined us in January 2007, bringing more than 14 years of experience in the finance and aviation industries. Mr. Forsyth is responsible for the capital markets, finance, treasury,

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accounting, risk management and systems functions of the Company. Prior to joining Willis Lease, he served as Standard Aero's Vice President of Finance, providing financial management support to nine business units with $800 million in annual sales. Formerly he was with Price Waterhouse (now Pricewaterhouse Coopers) practicing in their audit and tax departments. He is a Chartered Accountant and graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.

        Thomas C. Nord has served as our Senior Vice President and General Counsel since July 2003. Mr. Nord is responsible for managing our legal affairs. From May 1977 to March 2003, he was an attorney with GATX Financial Corporation, a specialized finance and leasing company ("GATX") located in San Francisco, California. During most of his career at GATX, from January 1981 until March 2003, he was their Managing Director, General Counsel and Secretary. From February 1974 until May 1977, Mr. Nord was Counsel to Irving Trust Company in New York, New York. From June 1969 to February 1974 Mr. Nord was associated with the New York City law firm of Seward & Kissel. Mr. Nord holds a Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of North Carolina.


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

        The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 24, 2008 by: (i) each person who is known to us to own beneficially more than five percent of the outstanding shares of our common stock; (ii) each Director; (iii) each officer listed in the Summary Compensation Table; and (iv) all Directors and Executive Officers as a group. Unless specified below, the mailing address for each individual, officer or director is c/o Willis Lease Finance Corporation, 773 San Marin Drive, Suite 2215, Novato, CA 94998.

 
   Common stock(1)
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
   Number of
Shares
   Percentage of
Class
Charles F. Willis, IV   3,483,147 (2) 37.83%
Donald A. Nunemaker   407,457 (3) 4.52%
Thomas C. Nord   89,608 (4) *
Lee G. Beaumont   59,306   *
Bradley S. Forsyth   55,978   *
Gérard Laviec   42,294 (5) *
W. William Coon, Jr   8,863   *
Robert T. Morris   8,863   *
Hans J. Hunziker   5,113 (6) *
All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (9 persons)   4,160,629   45.47%
Wells Fargo & Company   1,051,471 (7) 12.17%
Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.    553,631 (8) 6.41%
JAM Partners LP   936,719 (9) 10.84%
*
Less than one percent of our outstanding common stock.

(1)
Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table, the stockholders named in the table are known to us to have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable. The number of shares beneficially owned includes common stock of which such individual has the right to acquire beneficial ownership either currently or within 60 days after March 24, 2008, including, but not limited to, upon the exercise of an option.

(2)
Includes 2,471,232 shares held by CFW Partners, L.P., a California limited partnership, of which Charles F. Willis, IV, holds a one percent (1%) interest as sole general partner and an eighty

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(3)
Includes 366,650 options to purchase shares at a weighted average exercise price of $7.56 per share.

(4)
Includes 41,000 options to purchase shares at a weighted average exercise price of $6.18 per share. Mr. Nord also owns 2,500 Series A preferred shares which he purchased on February 7, 2006 at $10.00 per share.

(5)
Includes 38,431 options to purchase shares at a weighted average exercise price of $5.56 per share.

(6)
Includes 1,250 options to purchase shares at a weighted average exercise price of $8.70 per share.

(7)
Based on Schedule 13G/A filed by Wells Fargo & Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 2008. Wells Fargo & Company's mailing address is 420 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94104.

(8)
Based on Schedule 13G/A filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 2008. Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.'s mailing address is 1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

(9)
Based on a Form 4 filing by Sy Jacobs with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 21, 2008. JAM Partner, L.P.'s mailing address is One Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003.


SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

        Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our Directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common stock and our other equity securities. Directors, executive officers and holders of more than ten percent of our common stock are required by Securities and Exchange Commission regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.

        Based solely upon review of the copies of such reports furnished to us and written representations from our officers and Directors, we believe that, except as set forth in the following sentences, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, our Directors, executive officers and holders of more than ten percent of our common stock complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements. Lee G. Beaumont, Executive Vice President purchased 300 shares of the Company's common stock on April 18, 2007, but his Form 4 was not filed until April 24, 2007.

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COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

        This Compensation discussion and analysis describes the material elements of our compensation program for named executive officers. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee") oversees the design and administration of our executive compensation programs. The Committee is comprised of three independent directors: Gérard Laviec (Chair), W. William Coon, Jr. and Robert Morris. The Committee meets formally twice per year, and more often if needed. Each meeting includes an executive session, with no member of management present. The Committee's charter is available on the Company's web site (www.willislease.com).

        The Committee retains compensation consultants from time to time to evaluate executive compensation levels and advise on specific programs; the consultants report directly to the Committee. In late 2006, the Committee retained Smith Consulting to advise on various compensation issues. Smith Consulting has no other contract or business relationship with Willis Lease.

        None of our executive officers currently serves on the Committee. None of our executive officers is, or was during 2007, serving as a director of or member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers serves, or served, as a director of or on our Committee.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

        The objectives of our compensation programs are to attract and retain high performing executives, to provide a substantial link between the company's performance and executive pay, and to provide shareholders with a superior rate of return.

        It is difficult to make direct comparisons with our competitor's pay practices—most of the Company's direct competitors are business units within much larger corporations such as General Electric, United Technologies and Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi—therefore, the Committee makes its decisions based primarily on its understanding of compensation practices in the aviation services and leasing markets, generally and for companies of comparable size. This information comes through executive recruiting and compensation surveys including, "Watson Wyatt Data Services 2007 Top Management Compensation Report." Comparisons included financial institutions with comparable assets and all industry data for companies with comparable sales volume. These surveys allow the Committee, with the aid of Smith Consulting, to consider the compensation practices of comparably sized companies.

        Our intention is to provide total compensation opportunity targeted at the 75th percentile of prevailing market compensation, and to pay that level of compensation only when the Company's financial goals are achieved or exceeded.

Governance of Compensation Programs

        Our CEO, in conjunction with human resources, develops recommended annual salaries, incentive targets and long-term incentive compensation for the named executive officers. Using the published survey and comparator group information described above under "Compensation Philosophy and Objectives," and based on competitive market information provided by the Committee's outside consultant, the Committee approves the annual salaries, incentive targets and long-term incentive compensation for the named executive officers.

        In 2006 and early 2007, with the advice of Smith Consulting, the Committee approved the terms of employment contracts negotiated with Messrs. Beaumont and Forsyth as being consistent with current market for their respective positions. The Committee also approved increases in Messrs. Willis' and Nord's base salaries. In Mr. Willis' case the increase represents the Committee's assessment of his

9


performance and input from its consultant. In Mr. Nord's case the Committee considered Mr. Willis' recommendation and input from its consultant and increased his compensation over a two-year period because it believed that it was out of step with the market.

Elements of Compensation

        Components of the total executive compensation package include:

        Base Salary:    Each officer's base salary is set on the basis of the Committee's assessment of salary levels in effect for comparable positions in the labor market, the officer's personal performance, and internal comparability considerations. The weight given these factors may vary from individual to individual. Base salaries are reviewed annually, and adjustments are made in accordance with the factors described above.

        Annual Incentive Compensation:    The Committee has established an annual incentive program designed to reward both the achievement of specific financial goals and individual performance. Executives participate in a company-wide bonus plan with each employee participant having an individual target bonus based on a percentage of base salary. The bonus plan rewards the achievement of a financial goal set by the Board on an annual basis. A "bonus pool" is determined in the annual budgeting process which will be funded if we achieve the financial goal.

        In 2007 the bonus plan provided for a bonus pool based on the achievement of a return on common equity goal established by the Board. If the pre-established goal is achieved the bonus pool will be fully funded and the executives will receive essentially 100% of their target bonuses which range from 100% (in the case of the CEO) to 50% of base salary. If return on common equity is less than the pre-established goal the bonus pool is correspondingly reduced. If net income is less than 80% of this goal the bonus pool is eliminated and no bonuses are paid. Similarly, if the results exceed the goal, 20% of the excess is added to the bonus pool. The bonus program also provides for a discretionary pool which is deducted from the larger pool. This discretionary pool is allocated by the Committee based on evaluation of performance as recommended by the CEO.

        Long-term Incentive Compensation:    To reward executives for the long term growth in the value of the Company's shares, the Committee also makes annual long-term incentive grants.

        Prior to June 2006, stock options (non-qualified and incentive stock options) were the primary form of long-term incentives for our executives. Because the 1996 Stock Option Plan expired in June 2006, no option grants were made after that date. The stockholders approved the 2007 Incentive Stock Plan ("2007 Plan") at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Under the 2007 Plan, these awards may take the form of stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, or long-term cash incentives. The intent is to model awards under this program to provide potential gains that are competitive with those offered in comparable companies. The current expectation is that restricted stock awards will be the primary form of long term incentives for our executives.

        Employee Stock Purchase Plan:    With the exception of the CEO, whose ownership level precludes his participation under IRS regulations, our named executive officers, as well as all other eligible employees, may purchase Company shares at a discount under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

        Under the 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan") 175,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance. Participants may purchase not more than 1,000 shares or $25,000 of common stock in any one calendar year. Each January 31 and July 31, shares of common stock are purchased with the employees' payroll deductions from the immediately preceding six months at a price per share of 85% of the lesser of the market price of the common stock on the purchase date or the market price of the common stock on the date of entry into an offering period. The weighted average

10


per share fair value of the employee's purchase rights under the Purchase Plan for the rights granted in 2007 was $3.05.

        Although we do not have a specific policy requiring stock ownership, we believe that the Stock Purchase Plan encourages our executives to purchase shares of the Company's stock. All the eligible executives participate in the Purchase Plan. We encourage stock ownership in order to align our executives' interests with those of our stockholders.

Executive Stock Ownership

        While the Company promotes share ownership by its executives, and encourages them to acquire shares through long-term stock incentives, there are currently no specific guidelines for executive ownership in relation to compensation.

Deferred Compensation

        We maintained a Deferred Compensation Plan through September 19, 2007. That Plan permited participating executives to defer payment of up to 80% of their base salaries and/or part or all of their bonuses. Through the Deferred Compensation Plan, the Willis Lease Finance Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan Trust invested all deferred amounts in investment funds and horizon portfolios (compatible with the investment options under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) pursuant to the election of each participant. The Compensation Committee determined the participant's "Annual Company Matching Amount" for any plan year to be added to the amount the participant elects to contribute from his/her salary and/or bonus. Such amounts are vested in accordance with a vesting schedule set forth in the Deferred Compensation Plan. In the 2007 fiscal year, we did not contribute any "Annual Company Matching Amount".

        Mr. Willis was the only executive who elected to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan. In 2006 he terminated his participation and in early 2007 withdrew the balance of his previous deferred compensation. As a result he has no accumulated deferrals. Because of the lack of utilization of the plan, it was terminated by the Board on September 19, 2007.

Severance Payments

        As described in detail below, employment contracts for Messrs. Willis, Beaumont, Forsyth, Nunemaker and Nord specify certain severance benefits to be paid in the event of an involuntary termination or termination after a change of control. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, the Committee believes that the interests of stockholders are best served if the interests of senior management are aligned with those of the stockholders. To this end, we provide enhanced change of control severance benefits to certain of our executive officers to reduce any reluctance of the executive officers to pursue or support potential change in control transactions that would be beneficial to our stockholders. The agreement to pay such severance resulted from negotiations of employment terms with our named executive officers. For further details, please refer to the section "Termination and Change in Control Payments" elsewhere in this proxy statement.

        The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the three most highly compensated executive officers other than the CEO and CFO, based on total compensation for their services with us in all capacities.

11


SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

Name and Principal Position
(a)
   Year
(b)
   Salary
($)
(c)
   Bonus
($)
(d)
   Stock
Awards
($)(1)
(e)
   Option
Grants
($)
(f)
   Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(3)
(g)
   Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
(h)
   All Other
Compensation
($)(4)
(i)
   Total
($)
(j)
Charles F. Willis, IV
    PRES., CEO		   2006
2007		   618,125
650,000		   —
—		   —
88,559		   —
—		   584,391
920,527		   —
200,379		   38,011
53,486		 (5)
(5)		 1,240,527
1,912,951

Bradley S. Forsyth
    SVP, CFO
 
2006
2007
 
—
230,000
 
—
—
 
—
20,891
 
—
—
 
—
245,435
 
—
—
 
—
57,966

(6)
—
554,292

Lee G. Beaumont
    EVP, COO
 
2006
2007
 
182,474
360,000
 
—
—
 
—
27,340
 
—
241,500

(2)
150,580
433,355
 
—
—
 
35,284
27,762
(7)
(5)
368,338
1,089,957

Donald A. Nunemaker
    EVP, GM-Leasing
 
2006
2007
 
297,275
297,275
 
—
—
 
—
13,511
 
—
—
 
238,894
210,500
 
—
—
 
19,423
24,287

(5)
555,592
545,573

Thomas C. Nord
    SVP, GC, Sec.
 
2006
2007
 
237,040
265,000
 
—
—
 
—
26,341
 
—
—
 
113,914
187,646
 
—
—
 
12,850
13,527
 
363,804
492,514

Option Awards

(1)
The amounts in this column represent the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the fiscal year in accordance with SFAS 123(R). These amounts may reflect options granted in years prior to 2007.

(2)
Payment under Stock Appreciation Right.

Annual Incentive Program

(3)
Reflects cash bonuses paid to our named executive officers pursuant to the annual incentive program. For a description of the program, see "Compensation of Executive Officers—Compensation Discussion & Analysis—Elements of Compensation—Annual Incentive Compensation" elsewhere in this proxy statement.

All Other Compensation

(4)
Unless otherwise noted, amounts shown represent the following payments made on behalf of the officers: a 401(k) matching contribution, life insurance premium, and perquisites (if applicable).

(5)
As part of an employment agreement executed in 2000, Mr. Willis is provided a company car, three club memberships to facilitate his role as a Company representative in the community, and financial, tax, and estate planning services with a maximum value of $15,000 per year. The amount

12

 
    
   Perquisites
 
    
   Financial Planning
   Company Car
   Club Memberships
Charles F. Willis, IV   2006
2007		   $
 15,000
15,000		   $
 3,239
17,886		   $
 6,840
7,254

Donald A. Nunemaker
 
2006
2007
 
 
—
—
 
 
—
12,079
 
 
—
—

Lee G. Beaumont
 
2006
2007
 
 
—
—
 
 
—
18,452
 
 
—
—
(6)
Includes relocation reimbursement in the amount of $50,000 to assist with relocation to the Company's headquarters.

(7)
Includes relocation reimbursement in the amount of $35,000 to assist with relocation to the Company's headquarters.

        The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the grant of non-equity incentive plan awards under our Annual Incentive Program. As described above, we did not grant any equity awards in 2006.


GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
For Fiscal Years Ended 2006 and 2007

 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
   All
Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of Shares
of Stock
or Units
(#)
(i)
    
    
    
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
   All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
(j)
    
    
 
    
   Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(1)
   Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
   Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
(k)
   Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and Option
Awards
($)(2)
(l)
Name
(a)
   Grant
Date
(b)
   Threshold
($)
(c)
   Target
($)
(d)
   Maximum
($)
(e)
   Threshold
(#)
(f)
   Target
(#)
(g)
   Maximum
(#)
(h)

Charles F. Willis, IV
    PRES., CEO
 
2006
2007
 
—
—
 
618,125
650,000
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
91,848
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
88,559

Bradley S. Forsyth
    SVP, CFO
 
2006
2007
 
—
—
 
—
138,000
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
21,667
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
20,891

Lee G. Beaumont
    EVP, COO
 
2006
2007
 
—
—
 
156,800
297,500
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
28,355
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
27,340

Donald A. Nunemaker
    EVP, GM-Leasing
 
2006
2007
 
—
—
 
252,684
148,637
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
14,013
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
13,511

Thomas C. Nord
    SVP, GC, SEC.
 
2006
2007
 
—
—
 
118,520
132,500
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
27,319
 
—
—
 
—
—
 
—
26,341
(1)
Reflects awards from the 2006 and 2007 annual incentive programs.

(2)
The amounts in this column represent the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the fiscal year in accordance with SFAS 123(R).

13

        The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the outstanding equity awards held by the named executive officers at the end of 2007.


OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL 2007 YEAR-END

 
   Option Awards
   Stock Awards
Name
  (a)
   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
(b)
   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
(c)(1)
   Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
(d)
   Option
Exercise
Price($)
(e)
   Option
Expiration
Date
(f)
   Number
of Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
(g)(2)
   Market Value
of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have Not
Vested($)
(h)
   Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
(i)
   Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
($)
(j)
Charles F. Willis, IV
    PRES, CEO		   29,500
127,954
36,614
150,000
140,000
66,942
14,028
22,046		   29,500       9.20
5.01
4.68
5.40
10.00
5.50
14.00
5.51		   8/5/2015
3/3/2013
5/8/2012
10/12/2011
2/27/2011
10/13/2010
9/3/2008
3/3/2008		  







91,848		  







$







1,421,807		        
   
 
     
     
             
    587,084   29,500       6.78       91,848              
   
 
     
     
             

Lee G. Beaumont
    EVP, COO
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28,355
 
$
438,935
 
 
 
 

Donald A. Nunemaker
    EVP, GM-Leasing
 
14,000
50,000
26,106
50,544
50,000
56,000
50,000
10,000
30,000
30,000
 
14,000
 
 
 
9.20
5.01
4.35
4.68
5.40
10.00
5.50
4.19
15.56
14.00
 
8/15/2015
3/3/2013
5/8/2012
5/8/2012
10/12/2011
2/27/2011
10/13/2010
10/25/2009
4/22/2009
9/3/2008
 










14,013
 










$










216,921
 
 
 
 
   
 
     
     
             
    366,650   14,000       7.56       14,013              
   
 
     
     
             

Thomas C. Nord
    SVP, GC, SEC.
 
30,000
 

11,000
 
 
 
5.07
9.20
 
8/7/2013
8/5/2015
 


27,319
 


$


422,898
 
 
 
 

Bradley S. Forsyth
    SVP, CFO
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21,667
 
$
335,405
 
 
 
 
(1)
Unexercisable options vest in four equal annual installments on each anniversary of the grant date.

(2)
Shares of restricted stock vest in four equal annual installments on each anniversary of the grant date.

14

        The following table sets forth certain information with respect to options exercised by the named executive officer and stock that vested during fiscal year 2007.


OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
For Fiscal Year Ended 2007

 
   Option Awards
   Stock Awards
Name of Executive Officer
                    (a)
   Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise
(#)
(b)
   Value Realized on Exercise
($)
(c)
   Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting
(#)
(d)
   Value Realized on Vesting
($)
(e)
Charles F. Willis, IV
    PRES., CEO		   24,386   125,832   —   —
Bradley S. Forsyth
    SVP, CFO		   —   —   —   —
Lee G. Beaumont
    EVP, COO		   —   —   —   —
Donald A. Nunemaker
    EVP, GM-Leasing		   20,000   189,268   —   —
Thomas C. Nord
    SVP, GC, SEC.		   —   —   —   —

        We do not offer pension benefits and have, therefore, omitted the Pension Benefits table.


NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
For Fiscal Year Ended 2007

Name
  (a)
   Executive Contributions in Last FY
($)
(b)
   Registrant Contributions in Last FY
($)
(c)
   Aggregate Earnings in Last FY
($)
(d)
   Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions
($)
(e)
   Aggregate Balance at Last FY
($)
(f)
Charles F. Willis, IV
PRES., CEO		   —   —   —   200,379   —
Bradley S. Forsyth
SVP, CFO		   —   —   —   —   —
Lee G. Beaumont
EVP, COO		   —   —   —   —   —
Donald A. Nunemaker
EVP, GM-Leasing		   —   —   —   —   —
Thomas C. Nord
SVP, GC, SEC.		   —   —   —   —   —

Termination and Change in Control Payments

        Employment contracts for Messrs. Willis, Forsyth, Beaumont, Nunemaker and Nord specify certain severance benefits to be paid in the event of an involuntary termination or a change of control.

        The maximum of these benefits, payable to Mr. Willis, would represent three times his base salary and the average annual incentives he earned during the three years prior to his termination, plus payment of unvested annual incentives due during the year of termination, distribution of unpaid deferred compensation, immediate vesting of all stock options, and continued coverage for three years under the Company's employee group benefit plans.

15

        The maximum of these benefits, payable to Mr. Beaumont, would represent one year of his base salary for termination without cause or 18 months salary upon a change in control, plus, in case of a change in control, the average annual incentives he earned during two years prior to his termination, plus payment of unvested annual incentives due during the year of termination, distribution of unpaid deferred compensation, immediate vesting of all stock options scheduled to vest during the two years following the termination date, and continued coverage for one year under the Company's employee group benefit plans.

        The maximum of these benefits, payable to Mr. Forsyth, would represent one year of his base salary for termination without cause or 18 months salary upon a change of control, plus, in case of a change in control, the average annual incentives he earned during two years prior to his termination, plus payment of unvested annual incentives due during the year of termination, distribution of unpaid deferred compensation, immediate vesting of all stock options scheduled to vest during the two years following the termination date, and continued coverage for one year under the Company's employee group benefit plans.

        The maximum of these benefits payable to Mr. Nunemaker would represent one year of his base salary for termination without cause or 18 months salary upon a change in control, plus, in case of a change in control, the average annual incentive he earned during the two years prior to his termination or one and one half times the average annual incentives earned during the two years prior to his termination upon a change of control, plus a prorated portion of his annual incentives due during the year of termination, distribution of unpaid deferred compensation, immediate vesting of all stock options, and continued coverage for one year under the Company's employee group benefit plans or 18 months if a change of control.

        The maximum of these benefits, payable to Mr. Nord, would represent six months of his base salary for termination without cause or one year's salary upon a change in control, plus, in case of a change in control, the average annual incentive he earned during the two years prior to his termination, plus payment of annual incentives due during the year of termination, distribution of unpaid deferred compensation, immediate vesting of all stock options scheduled to vest during the two years following the termination date, and continued coverage for six months under the Company's employee group benefit plans.

        However, if any of these payments or benefits would constitute a "parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"), as amended, and would be subject to the Excise Tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, the contract stipulates that payments to Messrs. Willis, Beaumont, Nunemaker and Nord will be reduced to an amount equal to the larger of the amount the executive would receive if they payment were reduced to a level that would not trigger the "parachute payment" excise tax, or the full payment subject to the excise tax.

        If a named executive officer ceases to be employed by us because of his resignation or retirement, no severance payments are owed by us.

16

        The following table shows potential payments to our named executive officers under existing contracts for termination without cause or in connection with a change in control in each case, on December 31, 2007.

Potential Payments on Termination or Change of Control

 
   Willis
   Beaumont
   Nunemaker
   Nord
   Forsyth
 
   Termination
   Change
   Termination
   Change
   Termination
   Change
   Termination
   Change
   Termination
   Change
Severance payment   $ 1,950,000   $ 1,950,000   $ 350,000   $ 525,000   $ 297,275   $ 445,913   $ 132,500   $ 265,000   $ 230,000   $ 345,000
In lieu of notice     325,000     325,000     350,000     350,000     148,638     148,638     132,500     132,500     230,000     230,000
Annual incentives     2,183,527     2,183,527     579,993     579,993     403,651     500,227     187,646     279,046     287,935     287,935
Accrued Vacation and Sick Pay     100,000     100,000     51,721     51,721     45,734     45,734     44,614     44,614     25,808     25,808
Continued Coverage under all group
plans		     69,528     69,528     7,094     10,641     21,507     32,261     5,508     11,015     7,253     10,880
Club Memberships     20,448     20,448     —     —     —     —     —     —     —     —
Financial/Tax/Estate Planning     45,000     45,000     —     —     5,000     5,000     —     —     —     —
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Severance Payment   $ 4,693,503   $ 4,693,503   $ 1,338,808   $ 1,517,355   $ 921,805   $ 1,177,773   $ 502,768   $ 732,175   $ 780,996   $ 899,623
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Immediate Vesting of unexercisable stock options/Awards (number of options/Awards)     29,500     29,500     —     —     14,000     14,000     11,000     11,000     —     —

Director Compensation

        Our outside, independent directors are compensated by a combination of an annual cash retainer, and restricted stock, with additional stipends for the Chairs of the Audit and the Compensation Committees. In addition, new independent directors are granted 5,000 shares of restricted Company stock on their appointment.

        The Company does not provide additional compensation to executives who serve on the Board.

        In February 2007, based on an analysis of market levels for board compensation in companies the size of Willis Lease conducted by Smith Consulting, the Board voted to adopt a new schedule for independent director compensation, to be effective January 1, 2007. The total fee was increased to $88,000 per year, one-half payable in cash and one-half in the form of an award of restricted stock based on the closing price of the Company's shares on the date of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Chair of the Audit Committee continues to receive a $7,500 stipend and the Compensation Chair receives a $5,000 stipend.

17

        The following table summarizes compensation by individual independent director for 2007.


DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
For Fiscal Year Ended 2007

Name
  (a)
   Fees Earned
or Paid
in Cash
($)
(b)
   Stock
Awards
($)(1)
(c)
   Option
Awards
($)
(d)
   Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
(e)
   Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
(f)
   All Other
Compensation
($)
(g)
   Total
($)
(h)
Gérard Laviec   48,000   26,568   —   —   —   —   74,568
Hans J. Hunziker   43,000   26,568   —   —   —   —   69,568
W. William Coon, Jr.    44,000   35,183   —   —   —   —   79,183
Robert T. Morris   50,500   35,183   —   —   —   —   85,683
(1)
The amounts in this column represent the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the fiscal year in accordance with SFAS 123(R). These amounts may reflect options granted in years prior to 2007.

        Under the 2007 Plan each non-employee Board member received a restricted stock grant of 5,000 shares of common stock when they first become a non-employee Board member. In addition each individual who is to continue to serve as an independent director is granted $44,000 worth of restricted stock based on the market price of our common stock on the date of the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

        Each 5,000 share initial restricted stock grant vests in a series of four successive equal annual installments over the recipient's period of continued service as a Board member measured from the option grant date. Each $44,000 value annual restricted stock grant vests in one installment on the recipients's completion of one year of Board service measured from the grant date.


REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

        The Compensation Committee of the board of directors has submitted the following report for inclusion in this Proxy Statement:

        The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this Proxy Statement with management. Based on our review of and the discussions with management with respect to the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, we recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 for filing with the SEC.

        The foregoing report is provided by the following directors, who constitute the Compensation Committee:

18


COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

        The Compensation Committee consists of the following three independent directors: Gérard Laviec, Chairman, W. William Coon, Jr., and Robert T. Morris. None of our executive officers currently serves on our Compensation Committee. None of our executive officers is, or was during 2007, serving as a director of or member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers serves, or served, as a director of or on our Compensation Committee.


REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

        The Audit Committee oversees our accounting function, internal controls and financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee is composed of three directors, each of whom is independent as defined by the Nasdaq listing standards. The Committee operates pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter.

        Our management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the systems of internal controls. The independent auditors are responsible for performing an independent audit of our financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and to issue a report thereon. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K with our management. This review included a discussion of the quality, and not just the acceptability, of our accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.

        The Committee also reviewed with our independent auditors, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality, and not just the acceptability, of our accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under generally accepted auditing standards. This review included the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114 (Communication with Audit Committee). In addition, the Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by Independent Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees). The Committee has discussed with the independent auditors their independence from us and our management, including the matters in those written disclosures.

        The Committee discussed with us and our independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Committee met with our independent auditors, with and without our management present, to discuss the results of their audit, their evaluations of our internal controls, and the overall quality of our financial reporting.

        In reliance on the reviews and discussions with our management and the independent auditors referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

        Our auditors are KPMG LLP, and they were responsible for the audit of our financial statements as of and for the 2007 fiscal year.

        For the 2006 and 2007 fiscal years, fees for services provided by KPMG LLP to us were as follows:

 
   2007
   2006
A.    Audit Fees(1)   $ 750,262   $ 565,605
B.    Audit Related Fees(2)     30,000     —
C.    Tax Fees     —     —
D.    All Other Fees(3)     —     74,500
   
 
    $ 780,262   $ 640,105
   
 
(1)
Audit fees billed to us by KPMG during the 2006 and 2007 fiscal years include the audit of our annual financial statements and quarterly reviews of financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Amounts billed for 2006 under Audit fees included $111,000 in fees incurred related to our preferred stock offering.

(2)
Amounts billed under audit related fees for 2007 are for professional services rendered in issuing a comfort letter in connection with the WEST 2007 offering memorandum associated with the 2007 series WEST warehouse notes.

(3)
All Other Fees related to professional services rendered in support of due diligence relating to potential business expansion.

        All fees described above were approved by the Audit Committee.

        The Audit Committee requires that any services to be provided by our auditors must be approved in advance by the Audit Committee. If approval is required before the Committee can act, a single member of the Committee can approve an engagement, subject to ratification by the Committee at its next meeting. All services were pre-approved by the Committee or its Chair.

        KPMG will be at our Annual Meeting. They will have the opportunity to make a statement, if they desire to do so; and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

        The following table outlines our Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 2007. The information below relates to our 1996 Stock Option Plan which terminated June 19, 2006 and the 2007 Incentive Stock Plan.

Plan Category
   Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)
   Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(b)
   Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders   1,363,311   $ 7.12   1,744,596
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders   n/a     n/a   n/a
   
 
 
  Total   1,363,311   $ 7.12   1,744,596
   
 
 


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

        As required by Nasdaq rules, all material discretionary transactions between us and our Directors, executive officers or known principal stockholders (or their respective affiliates) must be approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee does not intend to approve any such transactions unless it believes that they are on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.

        Gavarnie Holding, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company ("Gavarnie") owned by Charles F. Willis, IV, purchased the stock of Aloha Island Air, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, ("Island Air") from Aloha AirGroup, Inc. ("Aloha") on May 11, 2004. Charles F. Willis, IV is the President, CEO and Chairman of our Board of Directors and owns approximately 34% of our common stock as of December 31, 2007. Island Air leases four DeHaviland DHC-8-100 aircraft and two spare engines from us, under non-cancelable leases and scheduled payments in accordance with the leases will generate lease revenue of approximately $1.2 million in 2008 and $0.3 million in 2009. These aircraft and engines have a net book value of $8.7 million at December 31, 2007. In 2006, in response to a fare war commenced by a competitor, Island Air requested a reduction in lease rent payments by a deferral of 5 months lease rent totaling $260,000 which was approved by the Board of Directors. The deferral was accounted for as a reduction in lease revenue in the period. Further rent deferrals have been approved by the Board of Directors in 2007 and have been extended through September 2007, totaling $816,000. As in 2006, all 2007 deferrals have been accounted for as a reduction in lease revenue in the period. In response to the continuing difficult competitive environment in Hawaii, our leases with Island Air are currently being restructured and amended effective October 2007. After taking into account the deferred amounts, Island Air remains current on all obligations except for $32,000 in overdue rent related to November-December 2007 and $144,000 in overdue rent related to March 2008. No provision has been made for any loss.

        We entered into a Consignment Agreement dated May 26, 2006, with J.T. Power LLC ("J.T. Power"), an entity whose majority shareholder, Austin Willis, is the son of our President and Chief Executive Officer, and directly and indirectly, a shareholder of ours. During the six months ended December 31, 2006, sales of consigned parts were $0.1 million. During the year ended December 31, 2007, sales of consigned parts were $0.1 million. The book value for the parts consigned to J.T. Power as of December 31, 2007 was $0. On January 22, 2008, we entered into a Consignment Agreement with J.T. Power in which they are responsible to market and sell parts from the teardown of three engines with a book value of $4.2 million. On July 27, 2006, we entered into an Aircraft Engine Agency

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Agreement with J.T. Power, LLC, in which we will on a non-exclusive basis, provide engine lease opportunities with respect to available spare engines at J.T. Power. J.T. Power will pay us a fee based on a percentage of the rent collected by J.T. Power for the duration of the lease including renewals thereof. Revenue of $32,400 was earned during the period from inception of the agreement to December 31, 2006. In 2007, we earned revenue of $84,000 and paid $21,000 in commission under this program.

        Under a Time Sharing Agreement dated as of March 1, 2005 between the Company and Charles F. Willis, Mr. Willis has the ability to lease the Company's Canadair Challenger aircraft from time to time for his personal use on an as needed as available basis. During 2007 he leased the aircraft for a total of 5.7 hours and paid the Company $12,150 for expenses related to the operation of the aircraft.


STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH

        The following performance graph shows the percentage change in cumulative total return to a holder of our common stock, assuming dividend reinvestment, compared with the cumulative total return, assuming dividend reinvestment, of the Nasdaq Stock Market-US Index and the Nasdaq Financial Index, during the period from December 31, 2002 through December 31, 2007.

GRAPHIC

*
$100 invested on 12/31/02 in stock or in index including reinvestment of dividends.


STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

        Stockholder proposals intended to be considered at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must, under Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, be received by us no later than December 31, 2008. Your proposal(s) must be mailed to our executive offices, 773 San Marin Drive, Suite 2215, Novato, California 94998, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Your proposal(s) may be included in next year's proxy statement if they comply with certain rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

        Alternatively, under our Bylaws, a proposal or nomination that you do not seek to include in our proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 may be submitted in writing to our Corporate Secretary for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders not less than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, unless the date of the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed (other than as a result of adjournment) by more than 60 days from the anniversary of the 2008 Annual Meeting. For our 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this means that of your proposal(s) or nomination(s) must be submitted no later than February 25, 2009 (which is 90 calendar days before the anniversary of the 2008 Annual Meeting). If the date of our 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed (other than as a result of adjournment) by more than 60 days from the anniversary of our 2008 Annual

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Meeting, you must submit any such proposal or nomination no later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Your submission must include certain specified information concerning the proposal or nominee, as the case may be, and information as to your ownership of our common stock.


STOCKHOLDERS SHARING THE SAME LAST NAME AND ADDRESS

        We are sending only one copy of our annual report and proxy statement to stockholders who share the same last name and address unless they have notified us that they want to continue receiving multiple copies. If you would like to have additional copies of our annual report and/or proxy statement mailed to you, or you would like to opt out of this practice for future mailings, please submit your request to Willis Lease Finance Corporation, attention Assistant Secretary, 773 San Marin Drive, Suite 2215, Novato, CA 94998. We will promptly send additional copies of the annual report and/or proxy statement upon receipt of such request. You may also contact us at 415-408-4700 if you received multiple copies of the annual meeting materials and would prefer to receive a single copy in the future.


OTHER MATTERS

        Our management does not know of any matters to be presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders other than those set forth herein and in the Notice accompanying this proxy statement.

Date: April 29, 2008

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WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION

2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
May 22, 2008

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

        The undersigned hereby appoints Charles F. Willis, IV, Lee G. Beaumont and Bradley S. Forsyth, and each of them, as Proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse, all of the shares of Common Stock of WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION held of record by the undersigned on March 24, 2008, at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on May 22, 2008 or at any adjournment thereof.

        The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR THE NOMINEES listed in Proposal 1. This proxy will be voted in accordance with the choices specified by the undersigned on the other side of this proxy. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY ARE INDICATED HEREIN, THIS PROXY WILL BE TREATED AS A GRANT OF AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR CLASS I OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS NAMED ON THE OTHER SIDE HEREOF AND ON ANY OTHER MATTERS TO BE VOTED WHICH ARE PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING. PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

        (Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION

May 22, 2008

Please sign, date and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.

Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE ý
1.
Election of Class l Directors:
o   FOR ALL NOMINEES        

o
 
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
FOR ALL NOMINEES
 
 
 
 

o
 
FOR ALL EXCEPT
(See instructions below)
 
 
 
 

NOMINEES:
 
 
 
 
(  )   Robert T. Morris        
(  )   W. William Coon, Jr.        
2.
In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark "FOR ALL EXCEPT" and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here: •        


 
 
To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method.   o    
 
Signature of Stockholder  
   Date:  
   Signature of Stockholder  
   Date:  
Note:
Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder must sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.



QuickLinks

WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION PROXY STATEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SOLICITATION AND VOTING OF PROXIES
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF TWO CLASS I DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS For Fiscal Years Ended 2006 and 2007
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL 2007 YEAR-END
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED For Fiscal Year Ended 2007
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION For Fiscal Year Ended 2007
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION For Fiscal Year Ended 2007
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
STOCKHOLDERS SHARING THE SAME LAST NAME AND ADDRESS
OTHER MATTERS