Aircraft

Having courted success in various transport-based ventures including airlines, space tourism and balloon travel, Virgin Group chairman and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson is turning his attention to business jets. Branson is mulling a Virgin-branded air-taxi service, and is eyeing the Eclipse 500 very-light jet. “The Eclipse 500 will transform air travel,” he says, adding: “An air-taxi service concept has been pitched to us and our team are looking at it.” Eclipse says Branson expressed “an interest” in the aircraft during a visit to the AirVenture show in Oshkosh last July. “Branson sat in the aircraft and later had dinner with [Eclipse president and chief executive] Vern Raburn.” Eclipse has around 2,200 orders for the $1.3 million Eclipse 500.