Eclipse Aviation News
First flight of the Eclipse 500 is scheduled to occur in July 2002, just one month later than previously communicated. FAA certification is scheduled for December 2003 and first customer delivery for January 2004.
“We are pleased Eclipse continues to benefit from the strong support of its investors. But to be prudent, we have revised our development program in light of the current financial environment,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. “The revised plan reduces our investment requirement to reach first flight and results in modest schedule impacts.”
“The revised FAA certification and first customer delivery dates are not the result of unanticipated hurdles in the aircraft development program,” said Dr. Oliver Masefield, Eclipse Aviation Vice President of Engineering. “We have proactively changed our flight test plans in order to reduce costs without affecting the comprehensiveness of the test program.”
Eclipse Aviation had planned to produce eight test airframes in the span of six months. Plans now call for the assembly of one test aircraft in 2002 followed by the production of four aircraft and two additional airframes in early 2003.
“This approach will allow us to maximize the cost effectiveness of the Eclipse 500 flight test program,” Dr. Masefield said. “We will learn a tremendous amount from the testing of the first aircraft that can be applied to all the future Eclipse 500s.”
The Eclipse 500 fleet of test aircraft will accumulate over 5,000 hours prior to FAA certification and first customer delivery - up to five times more than most general aviation aircraft certified in recent years. In doing so, Eclipse Aviation plans to provide its customers with aircraft that set new standards in safety and reliability.
“We have and will continue to deliver on our promise to openly communicate both good and bad news, keeping our customers and the aviation community apprised of our progress in the delivery of the Eclipse 500 jet,” said Raburn. “Our resourcefulness and perseverance through these tough economic times are the direct results of our strong commitment and unrelenting determination to deliver the Eclipse 500.”
Eclipse 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 quarter 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.