Velocity, Inc.

Velocity, Inc.
Company typePrivate company
IndustryAerospace
Founded1984
FounderDanny Maher
Headquarters,
ProductsKit aircraft
OwnerSwing family
Number of employees
20
Websitewww.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]

Rocket Racer at Tulsa International Airport, April 2010

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]

  1. ^ Velocity 173 Elite, Kitplanes Magazine, December 1995, vol. 12, issue 12, pp. 6.
  2. ^ KEITH ROGERS (23 August 2008). "Federal rules govern home-built aircraft FAA officials must certify airworthiness". Las Vegas Review Journal.
  3. ^ Velocity Aircraft Receives Purchase Order For 20 Velocity XL-5's, Space Fellowship, 2008-10-08, accessed 2010-12-11.
  4. ^ Rocket Racing Composite Corp. Acquires Velocity Aircraft, Parabolic Arc, 2008-04-14, accessed 2010-12-05.
  5. ^ 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"