Refurbished Conquests Offer Seating For 8-10

Aero-News has learned Wichita, KS-based Yingling Aviation has introduced a joint ownership program, which offers partnerships on refurbished and updated Cessna twin-turboprop aircraft.

"By creating joint ownership arrangements for the purchase of two Cessna turboprops--a Model 441 Conquest II and a Model 425 Conquest I --we are able to offer the buyers the benefits of aircraft ownership without any of the drawbacks that go with buying a fractional share," said Yingling President Lynn Nichols. "Since they are recognized as owners by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and their names appear on the aircraft registration, the partners share jointly in the tax advantages and spread the operating costs equally."

Nichols adds participants in the program will not have to pay a monthly management fee, or any added markup to fixed costs such as maintenance or hangar rental. Owners will also receive discounts on fuel costs and insurance rates.

"This joint ownership approach has already proven to be very popular among clients from small to medium-size businesses, especially in the health care industry," he said. "We currently have four doctors who are participating and a number of additional prospects who have expressed interest. This concept is particularly well-suited to physicians who provide care to rural communities or those with remote business ventures. It provides an affordable, practical and versatile means of meeting their unique travel requirements."

Yingling launched the program after securing initial partners for the first two airplanes. The Conquest II, on which Yingling remains a major partner, is also used by the firm in its Part 135 charter operation. It was acquired last year, and completely refurbished.

The Conquest I, which is currently owned jointly by Yingling and a building contractor, underwent an identical interior and exterior refurbishment, and re-entered service earlier this month.

Both aircraft offer updated three-way seats, new carpeting and headliner treatments, a state-of-the-art entertainment package with DVD and audio CD capabilities, and forward and aft bulkhead-mounted 10" video screens with wireless headsets. The Conquest II can seat up to 11 passengers and cruise at speeds up to 295 knots. The Conquest I offers space for up to eight occupants and a top speed of 263 knots.

"Both of these airplanes are ideal for this type of program," Nichols said. "They provide the flexibility, cabin amenities and the kind of range and performance that the partners desire-and without the hassle or inconvenience associated with traveling on the airlines. We have also gone to great lengths to ensure that the owners we've put together have similar, compatible travel needs so that aircraft availability and the expense and concerns associated with 'dead-head' positioning legs-where no passengers are on board-can be minimized or eliminated altogether," he added.

Yingling has assigned dedicated flight crews to each aircraft to ensure that the aircraft are properly maintained and the owners' travel needs are met.

Yingling is already in the process of expanding the program, having acquired a third Cessna turboprop that will be refurbished to match the others and enter service in January. The company also plans to add a Citation to the program in the coming months.

"Our business model is built on our familiarity with operating and maintaining Cessna products, so all of the aircraft we utilize in our joint ownership program will be Cessnas. At present we have more than 20 local prospects who are interested in shared ownership and we definitely expect to expand the program over the next couple of years," Nichols said.

Yingling is a full-service fixed base operation providing 24 hour line services at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport (ICT). A Cessna Authorized Service Center for nearly 60 years, Yingling also offers charter service featuring single, multi-engine and turbine aircraft and a rental fleet available to qualified pilots.

Cessna has also selected Yingling to design and build executive-style Oasis interiors for its line of Caravan single-engine turboprops.

FMI: www.yinglingaviation.com