Eclipse Aviation News
Today Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the revolutionary Eclipse 500 very light jet (VLJ), can see FAA certification on the horizon as the Eclipse 500 test fleet has exceeded 2,000 flight hours and completed the majority of required FAA certification testing. The company also announced that six customer Eclipse 500 VLJs are in various assembly positions on the production line. The Eclipse 500 is on track to achieve FAA certification by the end of this quarter and will be the first VLJ to market.
“Our test fleet of five Eclipse 500s continues to burn test points and build hours at a rapid rate. We accumulated more than 300 flight hours in the last four weeks,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. “I am also thrilled to see the production line coming to life. Last weekend, the first customer Eclipse 500 forward fuselage was mated to the aft fuselage.”
Eclipse 500 Test Fleet Recent Achievements
The Eclipse 500 continues to lead the VLJ market with significant accomplishments in aircraft testing. Recent milestones include successful completion of:
- All installed-engine operational certification tests, including engine operating characteristics, restarts, cooling and ventilation, engine exhaust influence on airframe temperature, vibration, negative-g and powerplant drainage
- Unusable fuel and hot fuel certification tests
- Cabin air smoke clearing certification tests
- Flight test points and data collection in support of Part 36 noise certification
- Climate control system certification ground testing
- All fuel system certification ground tests
Production Line Growing
The Eclipse 500 production line now has six aircraft in various assembly positions. P1 recently completed fuselage mate and is in position seven awaiting wing mate. P2 and P3 have been moved off the production tools and are in cabin build-up. The next three (P4, P5 and P6) production aircraft have completed friction stir welding and are in sub-assembly build-up. P1 will be delivered shortly after FAA certificationEclipse Aviation is in the business of designing, certifying and producing modern, affordable jet aircraft that will revolutionize the transportation market. The company is applying advanced electronics systems, manufacturing and business practices to produce aircraft that cost less than a third of today's small jet aircraft, will be significantly safer and easier to operate than those of today, and have the lowest cost of ownership ever achieved in a jet aircraft.
The goal of Eclipse is to bring the word "personal" into aviation, making it possible for commercial air passengers to move directly between cities on a quick, affordable and convenient basis. It will also allow pilot owners to enter the world of jet-powered aviation.