Eclipse Aviation News
Linear Air has placed an order for 15 of the very light jets, as they're called, with options for another 15. The Eclipse 500 planes are being built by Albuquerque, N.M.-based Eclipse Aviation Corp., which last year said it would establish its Northeast factory service center at Albany International Airport.
Linear Air, which now has operations in the Northeast at airports in Teterboro, N.J., Bedford, Mass., and White Plains, has considered setting up shop here as well, said William Herp, its president and chief executive officer.
"We don't have any specific plans at this point," he said. But service might be feasible, "since we anticipate having our aircraft in Albany on a regular basis."
Eclipse so far has announced service centers for Albany, Gainesville, Fla., and Albuquerque. The privately held manufacturer has 2,400 aircraft on order, said spokesman Andrew Bloom.
Herp described the aircraft, which cost about $1.3 million each, as "car service with wings" for small groups of travelers.