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Eclipse Aviation founder Vern Raburn dies at 75, leaving a legacy as the creator of the Very Light Jet market via the Eclipse 50

Vern Raburn, the founder of Eclipse Aviation and key architect of the “very light jet” concept, died April 25, 2026, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at age 75. He built the Eclipse 500 around the aim of making business aviation more affordable and widely accessible.

Discovered 2026-04-29T15:09:02.527846-07:00 | 2026-04-29T15:09:02.527846-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • Raburn’s Eclipse 500 helped define the Very Light Jet category and shaped long-term expectations for affordability in business aviation.
  • His passing marks the end of a firsthand era of entrepreneurship behind a niche intended to broaden access to corporate flying.
  • The cluster ties directly to Eclipse Aviation’s market impact—useful context for executives tracking VLJ segment evolution and competitive positioning.

Reported By

avweb.com Flying Magazine aerobuzz.fr AINonline pilootenvliegtuig.nl FlightGlobal
Sources Tracked
6
First Seen
2026-04-29T15:09:02.527846-07:00
Latest Update
2026-04-30T15:12:52.176629-07:00
Coverage
Aviation

Sources

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