The First King Air to Fly Around the World

The First Beechcraft King Air, Certified 50 Years Ago Today, to Fly Around the World on 100% Renewable Jet Fuel to Raise Money to Save and Improve the Lives of Children in Need May 27, 2014 - Wichita, Kansas - Air Capitol of the World Kings of the Air, an in-formation nonprofit organization, announced today, the 50th anniversary of the FAA certification of the Beechcraft King Air, that it is in the process of completing the restoration of the very first King Air ever made, serial number LJ-1, for an historic flight around the world flown by celebrity pilots. Historic, because this iconic business aircraft will fly the entire 33,000 mile flight on 100% sustainable, renewable jet fuel made from cellulosic waste for the first time in the history of man - a Guinness World Record - to raise money to save and improve the lives of children in need around the world. Alex Major, the founder and chairman of Kings of the Air, has named this a flight of Peace & Goodwill. Major, who has owned King Air LJ-1 since 1985, and has logged 6,000 hours flying time in a long list of private and business aircraft said, "there is so much violence, war and starvation in the world today, and children are many times the unspoken victims of this global turmoil. In addition, aircraft have recently been used by terrorists to take innocent people's lives, so we want to use this venerable business aircraft to raise money to save children's lives". The King Air, along with the Lear Jet, which was also certified in 1964, started the business aviation industry, which is today a multi-billion dollar global industry. A number of celebrity pilots have signed-on to fly one or more legs of the world flight, and a who's who of vendors to the King Air production line, have agreed to donate more than $2.5 million in parts, equipment and services for the factory new, museum quality, restoration of this King Air 90, which was the prototype, (it started its life as a Queen Air), the certification article, the factory demonstrator and a corporate aircraft for Beechcraft chairwoman Olive Ann Beech, who outfitted LJ-1 with here signature Robin's Nest Blue interior and her birth date as the registration number. The names of the celebrity pilots and the donating vendors will be released over the coming months as well as the locations of the fundraising stopovers, where galas are planned so that members of the international business aviation community can view this impeccably restored piece of business aviation history, meet the celebrity pilots, and participate in raffles, auctions, fabulous music, (it is also the 50th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America), food and wine. Los Angeles, Aspen, New York, London, Paris, Dubai, Sydney, Beijing and Tokyo are a few of the 33 stopover locations that have been mentioned. A website, newsletter, and press kits will be available in the very near future. End of Press Release Contact: Alex Major Founder & Chairman Kings of the Air alex.major@kingsoftheair.org Mobile: +1 310.980.8765