The Avocet ProJet was a Very Light Jet (VLJ) introduced by Avocet Aircraft, a Westport, CT., based company founded by aviation entrepreneurs Andrew Chao, Carey “Ray” Robinson Wolchok and aviation visionary Al Schwimmer, considered the father of the Israeli Air Force, El Al, and Israel Aircraft Industries[1] In the late 1990s, the duo discovered that the micro-turbine engine technology being pioneered on US cruise missiles could potentially be applied to commercial business aircraft.

In the same year, Sam Williams flew the Burt Rutan designed “V-jet”at the 1996 OshKosh air show using the experimental FJ22 cruise missile engine.

The Company announced orders for more than 100 aircraft at the NBAA 2003 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, and expected first flight in 2005.

Although neither manufacturer disclosed terms of any agreement, the Phenom 100, has engineering, design and performance specifications almost identical to the Avocet ProJet, including an innovative oval cross section which had been pioneered at Israel Aircraft Industries on their early model business jets.

In 2018, Wolchok and his childhood best friend then college roommate Huey Moncrief Rowe-Anderson, II, established the non-profit Landed Eagle Foundation to help aspiring minority entrepreneurs with a passion for aviation find careers and opportunities in the aerospace industry.