Stratos Finds First Customer, Will Bring Cabin Mock-up To NBAA

Stratos Aircraft, of Bend, Ore., announced this week it has received the first deposit for a Stratos 714 Very Light Personal Jet. The company also said it will display its full-scale cabin mock-up at next week's NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando, Fla., for the first time at that event. "The need for speed, performance and value drew me to Stratos," said Verson Pandian, the first buyer to take advantage of the Stratos fully refundable deposit program. Pandian is the owner of Cascade Air Charter, in Bend, and plans to use the jet in his business. "Knowing that I am not at risk with my deposit made me feel like the Stratos team really understands my perspective," he said. The Stratos single-engine jet will fly 1,500 nm at 400 knots carrying four people plus baggage, the company says. "We are excited to bring the 714 mock-up to this year's NBAA convention, especially since there is a focus on the light business aircraft owner," said Stratos Chairman Michael Lemaire. "We look forward to a great show."

The company's fully refundable Assurance Deposit Program aims to reassure skittish buyers that their deposits will be held in escrow, and can be refunded at any time. Lemaire says the 714 will fill a market need that right now is going unmet. "There are many piston and turboprop owners that have the need for more speed and range but also want a more efficient jet option with low acquisition and operating costs in these challenging economic conditions," says Lemaire. "The 714 matches this need and is the only aircraft that will give these pilots business-jet performance in a very light jet." The full-scale mock-up was first displayed at Oshkosh AirVenture this summer. The company said it will release further details and updates about the program at next week's NBAA event.