Velocity Aircraft
Velocity Aircraft designs and sells high-performance amateur-built composite canard aircraft kits (V-Twin, XL, SE) to private pilots and aviation enthusiasts worldwide, with factory-direct US sales, international regional representatives, builder support, flight training, and maintenance services from Sebastian, Florida.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersSebastian, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Velocity Aircraft does
Velocity Aircraft, Inc. is a Sebastian, Florida-based designer and manufacturer of high-performance amateur-built aircraft kits, founded in 1984 by Danny Maher and owned since 1992 by the Swing family. The company sells three core canard-configured composite fiberglass aircraft models—the V-Twin (twin-engine, $179,000 base), the XL ($77,000 base), and the SE ($57,200 base)—through factory-direct US sales and three regional international representatives (Swish Projects for Australia/New Zealand, Velocity UK for the United Kingdom, Velocity Europe for the European Union). More than 600 Velocity aircraft are flying worldwide, supported by roughly 20 full-time employees based at the company's headquarters at 200 West Airport Drive in Sebastian.
The company's core technology is a composite fiberglass canard airframe with a rear-mounted engine configuration that places propeller, noise, heat, and fumes behind the cabin. The canard (front lifting surface) is engineered to stall before the main wing, which the company markets as making stall/spin behavior impossible and providing an inherent safety advantage over conventional twin-engine aircraft. Revenue is generated through one-time kit sales and a layered catalog of add-ons (engine installations, retractable gear, Dash-5 equipment, avionics, paint, luxury console), recurring builder-support services (Head Start Program at $500/month, builder assist at $95/hour), transition flight training ($1,900-$2,500), and maintenance/inspection services delivered through the on-site Velocity Service Center. Two new airframes—a Turbine Twin and a Six Seat Twin—are listed as under development.
The customer base consists of experienced private pilots and aviation enthusiasts—primarily SMB and individual buyers—who self-assemble the aircraft under the FAA amateur-built experimental category. Go-to-market combines direct factory engagement (demo flights backed by a $500 deposit), annual attendance at the Sun-N-Fun Fly-in and EAA AirVenture, and a post-sale ecosystem organized around the Velocity Owners and Builders Association (VOBA). Velocity is privately held, family-owned, has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no disclosed institutional investors, and no public funding rounds on record.
Velocity Aircraft firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Velocity Aircraft
- Legal name
- Velocity, Inc.
- Website
- https://velocityaircraft.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Velocity Aircraft designs and sells high-performance amateur-built composite canard aircraft kits (V-Twin, XL, SE) to private pilots and aviation enthusiasts worldwide, with factory-direct US sales, international regional representatives, builder support, flight training, and maintenance services from Sebastian, Florida.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Velocity Aircraft industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Experimental Homebuilt Aircraft Kits
- NAICS
- Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)
- SIC
- Aircraft (3721), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fixed-Wing Aircraft Kits & Experimental Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing (IMABAEAB)
Keywords
Where Velocity Aircraft is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sebastian
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Velocity Aircraft business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Aircraft Kit Sales: Sale of aircraft kit packages including airframe components. Three models offered: V-Twin ($179,000), XL ($77,000), and SE ($57,200). Kit includes everything needed to build the airframe.
- Kit Options and Upgrades: Optional add-ons including engine installations, avionics packages, interior upgrades, paint, and luxury edition center console. Additional charges for Dash-5 equipment ($5,940), retractable gear upgrades, and pre-wired electrical systems.
- Builder Support Services: Head Start Program provides on-site builder assistance at $500/month for climate-controlled facility access. Builder assist billed at $95/hour for technical support.
- Flight Training: Transition training courses for builders and owners: Single engine training at $1,900 and V-Twin training at $2,500. Includes 5 hours ground school and 5 hours flight time.
- Maintenance and Inspection Services: Velocity Service Center provides annual conditional inspections, engine installations, cooling modifications, fiberglass repairs, avionics upgrades, airframe upgrades, paint services, and pre-purchase inspections.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | V-Twin Kit - $179,000 base price |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | XL Kit - $77,000 base price |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | SE Kit - $57,200 base price |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Head Start Program - $500/month |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Flight Training - $1,900 to $2,500 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Velocity Aircraft product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Velocity Aircraft designs, manufactures, and sells composite fiberglass canard-configuration aircraft kits for amateur builders under the FAA experimental amateur-built category. The company offers three core models (V-Twin, XL, SE) ranging from $57,200 to $179,000, and supports builders through factory-assisted FastBuild kits, on-site Head Start workspace programs, transition flight training, and a full-service maintenance and inspection center at its Sebastian, Florida headquarters.
Product overview
Velocity Aircraft is a kit aircraft manufacturer offering high-performance homebuilt aircraft. The product portfolio consists of three core aircraft models: the V-Twin (twin-engine canard design), XL (flagship extra-large 4-5 seat model), and SE (standard economical 4-seat model). All models feature a canard design, rear-mounted engine configuration, and are available in fixed or retractable landing gear variants. The company supports builders through its FastBuild pre-finished kit program, Head Start on-site builder assistance, and operates a Velocity Service Center offering flight training, maintenance, and inspections. Aircraft are amateur-built experimental category requiring FAA special airworthiness certificates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- V-Twin Kit Twin-engine canard aircraft kit designed for safe, efficient transportation with engine-out redundancy for night, IFR, over-water, and over-mountain flights. Carries 4 adults or 2 adults + 3 kids with 1,100 NM range and 185-250 KTAS cruise depending on engine choice. Sold to amateur aircraft builders and high-performance pilots.
- XL Kit Flagship large-cabin 4-5 seat aircraft kit priced at $77,000 base, featuring 47.5-inch shoulder-to-shoulder cabin width, support for 260-310 HP engines, cruise speeds up to 250 KTAS, and available fixed or retractable gear configurations. Sold to amateur builders seeking maximum cabin size and performance.
- SE Kit Economical 4-seat standard canard aircraft kit supporting 160-215 HP engines with cruise speeds from 160-187 KTAS. Available in fixed or retractable gear variants and is the entry-level model in the Velocity lineup for builder-pilots.
- FastBuild Program Factory-finished major airframe components delivered pre-fixtured to accelerate the builder's assembly timeline. Available as an upgrade option on V-Twin, XL, and SE kits to cut builder labor roughly in half. Sold to Velocity kit buyers seeking faster build completion.
- Head Start Program On-site builder assistance program providing workspace in a climate-controlled hangar with tools, jigs, overhead, and 24/7 access for Velocity kit builders. Monthly fee covers facility access; hourly technical assist available on top.
- Flight Training Certified-flight-instructor-led transition training for builders and owners preparing to fly Velocity high-performance and complex aircraft. Single-engine course $1,900 and V-Twin course $2,500, each including 5 hours of ground school and 5 hours of flight time.
- Velocity Service Center (Maintenance & Inspections) Full-service facility at the Sebastian, Florida headquarters providing annual condition inspections, engine installations, avionics upgrades, fiberglass repairs, paint, pre-purchase inspections, and airframe upgrades for Velocity aircraft owners.
Quantifiable outcome
- 200-250 KTAS cruise speed at 16 GPH fuel burn
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Velocity Aircraft
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Velocity Aircraft technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Velocity Aircraft partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered regional and core.
- Swish ProjectsregionalRegional representative for Australia and New Zealand. Contact: James Fisher ([email protected]). Provides sales support, builder assistance, and customer service for Velocity aircraft customers in Oceania region.
- Velocity UKregionalRegional representative for United Kingdom. Contact: Peter Day ([email protected]). Handles customer support and sales inquiries for UK market.
- Velocity EuroperegionalRegional representative for European Union. Contact: Michel Spruyt ([email protected]). Manages sales and support operations for EU customers.
- Velocity Owners (VOBA)coreVelocity Owners and Builders Association - official community organization for Velocity aircraft owners and builders. Provides peer support, builder sites hosting, and community resources for the 600+ Velocity aircraft flying.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Velocity Aircraft competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lancair: Manufacturer of high-performance kit and type-certified composite aircraft (formerly Lancair Evolution, now reorganized). Closely comparable in target customer (high-performance pilot-builder), composite construction approach, and pricing tier.
- Zenith Aircraft: Producer of STOL and cruiser kit aircraft (CH 750, CH 801, Zodiac) targeted at the same homebuilder pilot market. Comparable factory-direct and event-driven sales approach with similar kit price ranges.
- Rans Aircraft: Manufacturer of light sport and experimental kit aircraft including the S-7 Courier and Raven series. Operates in an overlapping price and customer tier, addressing the recreational builder/pilot segment.
- Van's Aircraft: Largest kit aircraft manufacturer in the US, producing the iconic RV-series of high-performance aluminum fixed-wing experimental aircraft kits. Direct competitor for the same experimental/homebuilder pilot customer base, with a comparable range of models, builder support programs, and event-driven GTM.
- Glasair Aviation: Producer of the Glasair and Sportsman kit aircraft families — composite fixed-wing experimental kits aimed at the homebuilder market. Directly comparable in airframe construction technology, builder support model, and price point.
- Sonex Aircraft: Manufacturer of Sonex, Waiex, and Xenos kit aircraft, including an emerging electric variant. Competes in the same experimental amateur-built category with a similar kit-plus-options revenue model and homebuilder customer segment.
Broad incumbents
- Tecnam Aircraft: Italian manufacturer of light sport, piston twin, and certified aircraft with a global dealer network. Overlaps with Velocity on the four-seat piston twin category (e.g., P2006T) but competes via factory-built certification.
- Cirrus Aircraft: Leading type-certified single-engine personal aircraft manufacturer (SR20, SR22, Vision Jet). Competes for the same personal aviation buyer with a turnkey certified product instead of a kit, representing a structural alternative to the amateur-built path.
- Diamond Aircraft: Manufacturer of type-certified composite piston and jet aircraft (DA20, DA40, DA62). Overlaps with Velocity on composite construction technology and the personal/owner-flown buyer segment, but competes via factory-built certification rather than kits.
Emerging players
- Epic Aircraft: Producer of high-performance composite aircraft (Epic LT, E1000) originally developed as kits and now offered as type-certified. Directly comparable in performance class and composite construction, with an evolving kit-vs-certified strategy that mirrors industry dynamics around Velocity's category.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Velocity Aircraft social profiles
Digital presenceVelocity Aircraft financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Velocity Aircraft leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Velocity Aircraft funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Velocity Aircraft M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Velocity Aircraft
What does Velocity Aircraft do?
Velocity Aircraft designs, manufactures, and sells composite fiberglass canard-configuration aircraft kits for amateur builders under the FAA experimental amateur-built category. The company offers three core models (V-Twin, XL, SE) ranging from $57,200 to $179,000, and supports builders through factory-assisted FastBuild kits, on-site Head Start workspace programs, transition flight training, and a full-service maintenance and inspection center at its Sebastian, Florida headquarters.
Is Velocity Aircraft a public or private company?
Velocity Aircraft is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Velocity Aircraft founded?
Velocity Aircraft was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Velocity Aircraft based?
Velocity Aircraft is headquartered in Sebastian, United States, in the North America region.
How does Velocity Aircraft make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Aircraft Kit Sales are the primary driver. The others are kit Options and Upgrades, builder Support Services, flight Training and maintenance and Inspection Services.
Who are Velocity Aircraft's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lancair, Zenith Aircraft, Rans Aircraft, Van's Aircraft, Glasair Aviation and Sonex Aircraft. Broad incumbents are Tecnam Aircraft, Cirrus Aircraft and Diamond Aircraft. Epic Aircraft is listed as an emerging player.
Does Velocity Aircraft have an API?
No public API is recorded for Velocity Aircraft.
What industry is Velocity Aircraft in?
Velocity Aircraft's product category is Experimental Homebuilt Aircraft Kits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAAAJ, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Kits & Experimental Aircraft Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMABAEAB, Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 336411 and its SIC code is 3721.