The formation last week of One Aviation, the combination of Eclipse Aerospace and Kestrel Aircraft, “provided an exit strategy” for Sikorsky Aircraft, which held a “minority equity investment” in Eclipse since February 2010, One Aviation chairman Mason Holland said today at Sun ’n’ Fun 2015. “Sikorsky is no longer a shareholder,” he confirmed, adding that Eclipse also decided to bring Eclipse 550 fuselage and tail production in-house from Sikorsky subsidiary PZL Mielec.

Explaining the reasoning for the merger of Eclipse and Kestrel, One Aviation CEO Alan Klapmeier said the arrangement will allow for a “rational business structure.” As such, Eclipse and Kestrel will be able to realize several synergies, including supply chain, sales, marketing and leadership, among others.

The company will now focus on sales and marketing of the E550 very light jet, with a view to expanding beyond the owner-pilot market to include corporate aviation, air limo and ab initio and military training. Holland maintains that the Eclipse 550 is “underrated and underappreciated.” Meanwhile, One Aviation will continue work on the in-development all-composite KA350 turboprop single at its engineering center in Superior, Wis. Its service center and "skunk works" will remain in Chicago, and it also has a "presence" in Maine. Holland said One Aviation is a global company and will eventually have facilities "overseas."