Private Air New York

www.privateairny.com Private Air | Winter 2020/2021 32 AVIATION R ita took her solo flight on her 16th birthday in a single engine Cessna, the legal age that Rita could secure her pilot's license and fly a plane. Rita was flying single and multi-engine planes for years never really thinking of a Jet. When Honda announced they would design and build a jet she decided right then, she would learn to fly a jet so she could own one. It was a "must" to fly her own Honda Jet. Honda cars and motorcycles were in Rita's heritage. Rita's parents had the first Honda dealership in the United States. ey were retailers for Honda motorcycles in 1959 when Honda came to the U.S. with their motorcycles. In 1968, they were the very first Honda car dealer in the U.S. Rita's passion for Honda grew each year and in 1976, immediately after graduating from college, Rita took the leadership role of the Honda car and motorcycle dealership from her parents. She was passionate about the business and stood by her favorite brand, Honda. When Honda announced the Honda Jet was going onto production in 2006, she put the very first customer order and deposit on the all-new Honda Jet at the Orlando Aviation Show where the Honda Jet was being introduced. It took years to develop the Honda Jet because of its very unique design, the first jet ever to have the engines mounted on top of the wings. Rita took delivery when the final FAA certification was completed April 2016. "I wanted the Honda Jet because it was a Honda and I had a lifelong passion to fly. e brand is a part of my heritage from the past, present and future of our family legacy," says Rita Case, CEO of e Rick Case Automotive Rita Case, CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group and daughter, Raquel Case Talking about Driving and Flying into the future. FROM ROADWAYS TO AIRWAYS By: Valerie Zucker

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