Guthrie Industrial Development Authority Provides Incentives

Excel-Jet, Ltd announced it reached a financial agreement with the Guthrie, Oklahoma Industrial Development Authority. "We've completed negotiations and Excel-Jet will be relocating its facility to Guthrie within 90-120 days," said company president and designer, Bob Bornhofen. Excel-jet has been based in Colorado since its inception in 2002.

Guthrie Economic Development Director, Alba Weaver, said, "We've created a partnership with Excel-Jet and have secured a first phase of funding." A $3-5 million package from local and state resources will allow Sport-Jet to move deeply into flight testing leading to the start of certification work later in the year. "Working with Bob Bornhofen and the Excel-Jet team has been a most pleasant experience," added Weaver. "Bob and his staff are professional, know what they want, and where they are going.

Glenn Hayes is City Manager for Guthrie. "Excel-Jet will be located near two other world-class aviation organizations (Zivko and Spirit Wing) which will make for good synergy," he stated, adding that the cities of Guthrie and Edmond have joined forces to develop the airport for use by both communities and have hired a professional airport manager to direct the growth of the airport. "We're also extending runways and improving the approach navigation facilities," Hays noted.

"We are extremely pleased about relocating to the Guthrie Edmond Airport which is also home to Zivko's Edge 540 aerobatic aircraft and Spirit Wing Lear, which equips Lear Series 20 business jets with new Williams FJ44 turbofans," reported Bornhofen. "Everyone in the city and airport share the same entrepreneurial attitude and business goals that we have." Excel-Jet says it has been looking for a more GA-compatible environment to support flight testing and production. "We are excited about the synergy and potential at Guthrie," said Bornhofen. City officials refer to the airport facility as GEOPORT for Guthrie Edmond Oklahoma Port for Air Industry and Research. They say GEOPORT has grown more than 95% of other airports in Oklahoma. Airframe modification work for the space tourism-oriented Rocketplane was also done in Guthrie by Spirit Wing.

Excel-Jet will be integrating the FJ33 engine into the Sport-Jet and then fly to its new home in Guthrie to complete the pre-certification flight-testing. The company expects to start certification within a few months of relocating. "We really did not want to start the extensive flight testing program here and then move in mid-stream so we have been delaying this phase until we found a permanent home," explained Bornhofen.

Excel-Jet's new Sport-Jet is a 4+1 seat, single-engine, all-glass aircraft aimed at the general aviation pilot. Sport-Jet has been designed for single-person operation by a pilot trained in piston-powered airplanes. Many advanced features and a simplified design eases pilot workload. "This will contribute significantly to the insurability of the aircraft when operated by nonprofessionals," added Bornhofen.

Airsure, Ltd., supports his comment stating, "Weighing in all the factors which are considered for a new aircraft coming to market, we feel encouraged that you have developed a product for which we will have no problem developing competitive insurance rates."

Sport-Jet will sell for about $1 million, cruise at 340 knots at 25,000 feet (above 95% of all weather), and can carry four persons over 900 nautical miles.

FMI: www.Sport-Jet.com