Eclipse Aviation News
Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world’s first certified very light jet (VLJ), today announced its sponsorship of the 43rd Annual National Championship Air Races, which are being held this week in Reno, Nevada. The company is participating in this exciting event as a Sport Class Sponsor, Fly-By Aircraft Sponsor and Trophy Sponsor for the racers that ultimately win the Fastest in Type title.
The National Championship Air Races are held each year in Reno Nevada to celebrate the “fastest moving machines in motorsports.” In addition to daily air races within six aircraft classes, the event includes a world-class air show featuring the USAF Thunderbirds, top aerobatic performers, military and civil flight demonstrations and a large display of static aircraft. The theme of the air races this year is “Conquests in the Sky,” and it seems only fitting that the first certified VLJ and prestigious 2005 Robert J. Collier award winner would have a major presence.
“The Eclipse 500 has broken new ground by offering a state-of-the-art jet at an unprecedented price, and it is a pleasure to take part in an event that celebrates the rich tradition of air racing,” stated Mike McConnell, vice president of sales, marketing and customer care of Eclipse Aviation. “Eclipse was founded to make private jet aviation available to more corporations, owner pilots and entrepreneurs, and sponsoring the National Championship Air Races offers us a fabulous opportunity to celebrate the passion for flight that fuels our pursuit of this goal.”
This week, each day’s Sport Class Gold Races will kick off with an Eclipse 500 demonstration flight in front of a crowd that in past years has exceeded 210,000. This daily flight will showcase the Eclipse 500’s tremendous performance capabilities and highlight the low noise emitted by the jet’s groundbreaking PW610F engines. The crowd will experience firsthand the Eclipse 500 as the quietest jet in history, and one of the most environmentally friendly.
Eclipse will also have its L-39 “Albatros” on static display. The L-39 is being used to provide Eclipse customers with emergency situation training. This training exceeds FAA minimum requirements, and is designed to enable Eclipse 500 pilots to operate their aircraft in real-world emergency environments to maximize safety and utility. This specialized training involves two hours of classroom instruction, rollover device training to demonstrate principles that have been introduced in the classroom and two flights in the L-39. The second phase of training includes hypoxia training with a reduced oxygen breathing device, which is currently in similar use by the U.S. military.
The National Air Championship Races are held at Reno Stead Airfield, a former Army Air Base that has experienced a rebirth since the inception of the air races. Each year more than 200,000 people come to Stead to enjoy the fastest motorsport in the world.
Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world's first certified very light jet, 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.