Kestrel Merges With Eclipse Aviation

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ONE Aviation Corporation Absorbs Kestrel/Eclipse

Kestrel K350 Aircraft

Kestrel K350 Aircraft

ONE Aviation Corporation has been formed to design, develop, and manufacture a family of aircraft, in hopes of becoming a market leader in its category and class. ONE Aviation’s core products include the Eclipse 550 twin-engine light jet and the Kestrel K350 single-engine turboprop.

“We are excited to announce the formation of ONE Aviation. I feel privileged to lead this experienced team of aviation professionals as we increase production of the Eclipse Jet, further the development of the Kestrel turboprop, and build a suite of General Aviation products second to none in the industry,” stated Alan Klapmeier, CEO of ONE Aviation. “I am particularly excited about the Eclipse 550. As our pilot experience and aircraft needs grow, we look to move up – to fly higher, faster, and safer. For many pilots and aircraft owners, the Eclipse Jet, with its incredible efficiency and safety record, provides that next step,” further stated Klapmeier.

Alan Klapmeier

Alan Klapmeier

According to company sources, ONE Aviation will focus on providing high performance aircraft owners an “uncompromising aviation experience” – from producing innovative aircraft to delivering industry leading training and customer support services. They went on to say that, ONE Aviation will immediately gain operational and marketing efficiencies by consolidating and leveraging the Eclipse and Kestrel business operations, supply chain, marketing and sales teams all under a single and seasoned management team. There was no mention in their press release about what effects, if any, this merger might have on plans to build an aircraft in Superior, Wisconsin. Explore Superior will follow up on this story in coming days.

Mason Holland

Mason Holland

“Combining the synergies of Eclipse and Kestrel under the leadership of Alan Klapmeier is a perfect fit. I believe that our current, as well as our future, customers will appreciate Alan’s vision and his prior experience in leading the design, development, and production of one of the world’s most successful aircraft programs. Alan knows our customers, he is a champion for them, and he is recognized throughout the aviation industry as an innovator and transformational leader,” stated Mason Holland, Chairman of ONE Aviation.

Holland, former head of Eclipse Aerospace, based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was part of a team with Mike Press, that purchased the assets of bankrupt Eclipse Aviation in 2009. That company was formed in 1998, and went bankrupt in 2008. Eclipse Aerospace entered into a partnership with Sikorsky Aircraft in January 2011, when Sikorsky purchased a 42% equity stake in the company. Sikorsky was founded by Russian immigrant Igor Sikorsky in New York in 1925, and specializes in building helicopters, and retains a 19% share of that market, second only to Russian Helicopters.

By April 2012, Greg Hayes, CFO of United Technologies, which owns Sikorsky, indicated that Sikorsky would not be investing any more money in Eclipse. At the time, Holland quickly clarified that the company had not asked for any further investment and that Sikorsky’s share remained at 42%. Holland also indicated that the company would deliver its first model 550 in 2013 and would produce 50 to 100 aircraft per year. The Eclipse 550 was rolled out in March 2013, with the first deliveries being made in October of that year. Portions of the airplane were manufactured in Poland including the fuselage, tail assembly, and wings.

According to a September 25, 2013 article in Albuquerque Business First by Dan Mayfield, the “new” Eclipse 550, an updated version of the Eclipse 500, sold for about $2.8 million, making it the least expensive jet available at that time. According to Holland, if the company could sell 30 planes a year, it would be profitable. By August 2014, Eclipse had laid off a “substantial” number of production workers due to slow aircraft sales. As a result, with $635,000 in city and state incentives Eclipse Aerospace has an obligation to hire 100 new workers by the end of 2015. (Source: AINOnline August 19, 2014)

Eclipse 550

Eclipse 550

The Eclipse Jet is reputedly the world’s only twin-engine light jet priced below three million dollars. Designed to fly at 41,000 feet while incorporating auto throttle technology, the Eclipse Jet is claimed to be the most fuel efficient aircraft in its class, as well as one of the world’s safest aircraft, with over 300,000 incident free fleet hours.

The Kestrel K350, currently under development, and the company claims it will redefine the industry’s single-engine turboprop market. Like the Eclipse, the Kestrel K350 is designed with the intent to make high performance aircraft more accessible to the General Aviation customer by reducing complexity and increasing value. The new company’s report indicates their intention to manufacture both the Eclipse 550 and the Kestrel K350. There was no mention of where joint manufacturing facilities might be, or if in an effort to become more efficient, only one plant might be needed. Superior awaits to hear about the future of the Kestrel facility in our south-end.

ONE Aviation is hosting a “Sun N Fun” conference in Lakeland, Florida where they will hold their first customer meeting at Tent #2 near the Florida Air Museum and FAM Pavilion near the entrance gates at 11 AM EDT, on Tuesday April 21.  For more information, visit their website at: ONEaviation.aero.




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