Starfish Aviation Purchases Fleet of Spectrum S.40 and S.33 Business Jets

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Austin Blue, President of Spectrum Aeronautical, LLC, announced today that the company has finalized the sale of a fleet of aircraft comprised of its Freedom S.40 and Independence S.33 business jets to Starfish Aviation, LLC, of Northbrook, Illinois. Although both companies have policies that prohibit public disclosure of details and order backlogs, Blue commented that the value of the contract is in the nine-digit range.

Blue noted that Starfish selected Spectrum’s equipment following in-depth evaluations to find the right aircraft to fit their operations. “Starfish has a program that is well suited to today’s dynamic and demanding transportation marketplace. The Freedom and Independence will perform very effectively for them,” he said.

Ken Ross, president of Starfish Aviation, LLC, says he’s confident Spectrum’s aircraft will revolutionize the way business travelers fly. “The S-40 is a truly amazing aircraft,” he said, “with capabilities and cabin comfort similar to a Citation XLS+, but with operating costs more comparable to a light jet, it will truly delight our customers.”

COMPANY BACKGROUNDS

Spectrum Aeronautical, LLC

Spectrum Aeronautical, LLC, has operations in Spanish Fork, UT and in Carlsbad, California. The privately held company is developing the Freedom S.40, an eight-place mid-sized jet powered by GE Honda Aero Engines HF-120 fanjets, scheduled for certification in late 2009; and the Independence S.33, a seven-place light jet using Williams International’s FJ33-4A jet engines, scheduled for certification during 2010.

Both aircraft feature the company’s revolutionary fibeX^TM advanced composite material technology, resulting in empty weights that are about 40% less than comparably sized aluminum aircraft. The light weight, combined with efficient next-generation fanjet engines, allows significant reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. Additional information, program progress and downloads of product photos can be found at: www.spectrum.aero.

Starfish Aviation, LLC

Based at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK), Starfish Aviation, LLC, is a new jet charter and aircraft management company, founded by Kenneth D. Ross, an aviation attorney and entrepreneur with over 25 years of industry experience. Additional information can be found at: www.starfish.aero.

Just released worldwide: Spectrum.aero Soars to GREEN Platinum Standard, highlighting Spectrum’s environmental stewardship. To request a copy of this release, images of either jet, or Spectrum Aeronautical’s white paper, Decreasing Emissions of Corporate Aircraft, please contact Beth Binger (beth.binger@BCIpr.com, 619-987-6658).