| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Danny Maher |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Kit aircraft |
| Owner | Swing family |
Number of employees | 20 |
| Website | www.velocityaircraft.com |
Velocity, Inc. is an American kit aircraft manufacturer.
The company was founded in 1984 by Danny Maher, marketing a four-seat homebuilt aircraft based on the Long-EZ design. The first prototype flew in 1985. The company was sold to Scott and Duane Swing in 1992. In 1995, the cockpit design was changed, adding a gull wing door design.[1]
In 2008, a power failure and crash of a Velocity undergoing initial testing at North Las Vegas Airport brought national attention to homebuilt aircraft testing. Banning of particular aircraft and flight operations at the airport afterward resulted in a power struggle over who has authority over airspace and access to public use airports.[2]
In 2008 Velocity received an order for 20 of its XL-5 aircraft to participate in the Rocket Racing League.[3]
On April 14, 2008, the Racing Rocket Racing Composite Corporation, a subsidiary of the Rocket Racing League, acquired Velocity Aircraft. The RRL announced their goal was to "produce an airframe that will be consistent for all competing Rocket Racers."[4]
On May 26, 2010, Scott and Duane Swing bought back full ownership of Velocity Inc from the Rocket Racing League.[5]
- ^ Velocity 173 Elite, Kitplanes Magazine, December 1995, vol. 12, issue 12, pp. 6.
- ^ KEITH ROGERS (23 August 2008). "Federal rules govern home-built aircraft FAA officials must certify airworthiness". Las Vegas Review Journal.
- ^ Velocity Aircraft Receives Purchase Order For 20 Velocity XL-5's, Space Fellowship, 2008-10-08, accessed 2010-12-11.
- ^ Rocket Racing Composite Corp. Acquires Velocity Aircraft, Parabolic Arc, 2008-04-14, accessed 2010-12-05.
- ^ Swing Family Repurchase of Velocity Inc. from Rocket Racing League, Velocity Aircraft Listserve, text copy from tvbf.org archives, 2010-05-26. "For those of you wondering just what influence Rocket Racing has with Velocity, let me assure you that they have none. As I write this, the sole ownership of Velocity Inc. is now totally and completely in the hands of Scott Swing and myself. Through a stock exchange, Scott and I returned our Rocket Racing stock for 100% return of the stock they held in Velocity Inc. Rocket Racing now has 0% ownership in this company. ... Scott and Duane Swing"