History of Eclipse Aviation
The following timeline includes the highlights and milestones Eclipse Aviation has achieved during its first ten years. Articles about Eclipse Aviation's history and accomplishments are kept at: www.eclipseaviation.com/news_events/news_articles.
Company press releases are archived at: www.eclipseaviation.com/news_events/press_releases.
1998:
Eclipse Aviation founded by Vern Raburn in Scottsdale, Arizona.
1999:
The Eclipse Aviation Board of Directors is established and an aircraft development program begins.
2000:
Eclipse Aviation headquarters moves to Albuquerque, N.M. Preliminary design of the Eclipse 500 is completed.
2001:
The detail design for the Eclipse 500 is completed and the first piece of aluminum is cut for the first Eclipse 500.
2002:
The Eclipse 500 is flown for the first time on August 26 powered by Williams International EJ22 turbofans. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approves the use of Friction Stir Welding (FSW) to produce the Eclipse 500. Eclipse Aviation is the first aviation manufacturer to use this technologically-advanced process.
2003:
Pratt & Whitney Canada selected to replace the Williams engines with PW610F-A engines.
2004:
Testing of the PW610F engines begins. The first friction stir welding operations for joining subassemblies for the Eclipse 500 begins in Albuquerque, NM. Assembly of seven test aircraft begins. The first certification flight test aircraft is produced.
2005:
After rigorous airframe testing, the FAA clears the Eclipse 500 to an initial lifetime of 10,000 hours, which is significantly higher than typically approved. Eclipse Aviation develops the PhostrEx™ engine fire suppression system, a non-Halon agent that is safer for the environment and more effective than prevalent ozone-depleting systems.
2006:
Eclipse Aviation receives full type certification for the Eclipse 500 from the FAA on September 30. The first production Eclipse 500 receives its Certificate of Airworthiness from the FAA. The first Eclipse 500 is delivered to a customer. Eclipse Aviation receives the 2005 Robert J. Collier Trophy for innovation in the advancement of general aviation through the design, development, and manufacture of the Eclipse 500.
2007:
Eclipse Aviation receives its production certificate from the FAA on April 26. The Eclipse Concept Jet (now the Eclipse 400), a single-engine turbofan powered, V-tail, four-place aircraft is revealed at EAA AirVenture in Wisconsin. Eclipse Aviation opens its Jeff Harbers Customer Training Center at Double Eagle II Airport in Albuquerque, NM, and a service center in Gainesville, FL. Eclipse Aviation receives FAA-certification of Avio NG Total Aircraft Integration™, an avionics system exclusive to the Eclipse 500.
2008:
Eclipse Aviation becomes the fastest general aviation jet aircraft manufacturer in history to produce its first 100 airplanes. The company opens a service center at the Albany International Airport in New York. On May 30, Eclipse Aviation started taking orders for the Eclipse 400 single-engine jet, the production version of the Eclipse Concept Jet. Eclipse Aviation expands its partnership with European Technology and Investment Research Center (ETIRC) Aviation to extend the global reach and impact of the Eclipse 500. ETIRC CEO Roel Pieper becomes the elected non-executive chairman of the Eclipse Aviation Board of Directors. Eclipse Aviation founder Vern Raburn steps down as President and CEO. Roel Pieper becomes CEO.
