ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Eclipse Aviation sold its first customer aircraft on Thursday.
The Albuquerque-based aircraft manufacturer touted the sale during a ceremony at its headquarters.
Eclipse President Vern Raburn handed the keys -- the airplane starts like a car -- to the first Eclipse 500 to California-based Jet-Alliance.
Jet-Alliance owner Randall Sanada said the twin-jet Eclipse 500 airplane will be used in a shared ownership program.
One of those owners, David Crowe, flew the airplane already and called it the easiest one he has ever piloted.
The six-seat very light jet airplane costs $1.5 million, which Eclipse has said is one-third less than the cost of other small jet aircraft.
