Executives with Bend startup Stratos Aircraft received positive feedback about their planned composite-bodied single-engine jet airplane during the National Business Aviation Association convention, which wrapped up Thursday in Atlanta.

“It just has been a fabulous show for us,” said Alexander Craig, Stratos president and CEO.

The company, which was featured on aviation-related websites during the convention, plans to build the Stratos 714, which it predicts will cruise at 460 mph, fly 1,500 miles, and carry four people and baggage.

Stratos officials are continuing to raise the $15 million needed to build a prototype and start the certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration needed to begin airplane production, Craig said. An additional $100 million would be required to finish certification and start building planes, which are expected to sell for around $2 million each.

Incorporated in January 2008 at an address north of Bend, according to state records, Stratos announced its intention to build the 714, classified as a Very Light Jet, in May 2008 and called Bend the capital of composite aircraft production.

At the time, Lancair International and Epic Air were making composite kit planes in Redmond and Bend, respectively, and Cessna Aircraft Co. workers were producing FAA-certified airplanes at a plant at Bend Airport.

Since then, Cessna closed its plant and moved production to Kansas, and Epic is in bankruptcy, although a group of former owners continues to build planes at Epic’s Bend Airport plant.

A new majority owner with an equity investment has helped Lancair weather the economic crisis, continue selling its newest turboprop model and expand its expertise in composites into other industries.

Stratos would like to stay in Bend, Craig said. The region has an experienced plane-making work force, and Cessna’s former plant is available. But he said the asking price for the facility is too high. A flier from Colliers International lists the property at just under $6 million, about $1 million lower than an earlier listing.

“Bend has the home-field advantage,” he said. “I am right now being courted by several cities.”

Economic Development for Central Oregon has been working with Stratos, Craig said. And Roger Lee, EDCO’s executive director, said the agency would like the company to remain in Bend.

“We’d love to see them be able to get the capital they need to go to the next phase,” he said, “and we’d love to see that happen here.”