SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT




                         PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)                   July 30, 1997





                        Willis Lease Finance Corporation
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



           CALIFORNIA              0-28774                            68-0070656
(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission                    (I.R.S. employer
of incorporation)                file number)                identification no.)


     180 Harbor Drive, Suite 200                                      94965-2846
            Sausalito, CA                                             (Zip code)
(Address of principal executive offices)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (415) 331-5281



ITEM 5.  Other Events.

         A copy of Willis Lease  Finance  Corporation's  (the  "Company")  press
         release  dated  July 30,  1997,  announcing  the  hiring  of  Donald A.
         Nunemaker as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer,
         is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

         Also attached is a copy of the  Company's  press release dated July 31,
         1997,  announcing its second  quarter  financial  results,  filed as an
         exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K.


ITEM 7.  Financial Statements, Proforma Financial Information and Exhibits.

        (c) Exhibits.

            Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated July 30, 1997.

            Exhibit 99.2 Press Release dated July 31, 1997.


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                          SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                          Willis Lease Finance Corporation



Dated:     August 4, 1997                 By /s/ Elliot M. Fischer
                                             ---------------------
                                             Elliot M. Fischer
                                             Chief Financial Officer and
                                             Controller (Principal Financial and
                                             Accounting Officer)

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