It may be a gimmick, but putting Jaguar's name on the side of a King Air and exhibiting it at auto shows throughout the U.S. is big business for Raytheon Aircraft. "We've taken orders for 14 Jaguar Special Editions," Karl Childs, Raytheon's sales and marketing VP, told Show News.

Now the green and cream, Jaguar-emblazoned King Air can be seen at Farnborough, flown here by Mike Dale, president of Jaguar North America.

"Asking Jaguar to be our partner in this design venture was based on the company's standing as a styling leader," said Childs The incorporation of Jaguar's unique design elements into the airplane was a joint project between Raytheon's aircraft interior specialists and the Jaguar styling team.

The Jaguar Special Edition airplane incorporates many of the auto's unique design features throughout the interior and exterior. Distinguishing artwork on the empennage includes Jaguar's leaping-cat symbol and logotype. A Jaguar green and gold paint scheme is evident on the King Air tail as well as portions of the engine nacelles and leading edges of the wings.

Inside the aircraft, the cabin's leather surfaces, including seat upholstery and sidewall coverings, are premium quality hides from longtime Jaguar supplier, Connolly Leather, Inc., rendered in a Jaguar hue called ivory. Seats of the Jaguar Special Edition are trimmed in contrasting leather piping similar to that on the current Vanden Plas sedan. The carpeting is a rich green, also derived from the Jaguar palette, that matches the seat trim. At the entryway, a leaping cat sculpted into the carpet texture greets passengers.