Sky Tour 2003 Targets Key West Coast Cities For Customer Visits

A US Tour starts today for the latest in a new generation of single engine, pressurized, piston and turbo-prop singles designed by the incomparable Walter Extra. The geographic center of the United States takes center stage as EXTRA Aircraft starts a series of customer meetings and demo flights with key sales prospects for the all new EA-500.

Billed as the EXTRA Sky Tour 2003, company CEO Ken Keith and National Sales Manager Red Berry will land mid-morning at Millard Municipal Airport, arriving in the company's own EA-400. "We believe in airplanes as an important tool in business, which is why I bought the EA-400 last year," Keith explained. "Now that I own the company, I'm using the airplane the way it was meant to be used -- fly it out to visit our customers." The Sky Tour's objective is to meet many of Extra's new customers and prospects, and to finalize sales commitments made during NBAA when the EA-500 had its debut.

"We wanted a chance to be face to face with our customers," Keith stated. "And the Sky Tour lets us do just that."

The Extra management team recently completed a series of visits on the East Coast, and having received positive feedback, opted to take the show on the road once again. This time, Keith said, key West Coast cities are scheduled for customer visits and demo flights.

The EA500 uses the same airframe as the EA400, but is powered by a Rolls Royce 450 hp model 250-B17F/2 engine and the MT Propeller five-bladed, reversible composite prop. The impressive result: higher performance without handling compromise. Certification of the EA500 is expected in April, 2004.

"Initial response is excellent," Keith said. "We think the EA-500 will lead the way for spacious, reliable and economical owner-flown touring/business aircraft."

The Extra Sky Tour 2003 will be held in the following cities:

• November 13 - Omaha, NE
• November 14 - Salt Lake City, UT
• November 15-17 - Seattle, WA
• November 18-20 - San Jose, CA
• November 22 -23 - Los Angeles, CA
• December 6 - 7 - Phoenix, AZ
• December 10-12 - Austin, TX

FMI: www.ExtraAircraft.com