Eclipse Aviation News
Press Contact:
Jet Engine Named Greatest Aviation Innovation of First 100 Years
Eclipse Aviation program celebrates 100th anniversary of Wright Brothers' first flight as part of EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk
ORLANDO, FL - October 8, 2003 - The jet engine is it. Eclipse Aviation today announced the jet engine is the people's choice in its Greatest Aviation Innovations voting as part of Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) Countdown to Kitty Hawk. Since April 2003, more than 16,051 people have voted either online or in person for their top pick of the 10 greatest aviation innovations.
Eclipse Aviation made the announcement at the National Business Aviation Association's (NBAA) 56th Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando as part of its involvement in EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk, a yearlong celebration of the centennial of powered flight. The Albuquerque, N.M., developer of the Eclipse 500 jet is a sponsor of EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk presented by Ford Motor Company. Microsoft Flight Simulator and Northrop Grumman are also sponsors. The Countdown to Kitty Hawk touring pavilion, which includes interactive aviation exhibits and the world's most authentic 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction, was brought to NBAA this week by Eclipse and its sponsoring partners, including NBAA, Parker Aerospace, Mecaer, Mach 2 Management, Avidyne, Aerazur, EDS, Seamech and QualPro Strategies.
Through its presentation of the Greatest Aviation Innovations of the First 100 Years, Eclipse highlighted each of the 10 innovations with interactive displays in the Countdown to Kitty Hawk pavilion. Vote tallies and descriptions for each of these innovations include:
Eclipse Aviation's Greatest Aviation Innovations
1903 Wright Flyer - Pointed the way for all successful aircraft that followed it. 37.1%
Douglas DC-3/Boeing 247 - The first modern airliners. 3.4%
Jet Engine - The biggest advance in propulsion. 37.4%
Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter - Made vertical flight a reality. 2.2%
Piper Cub - The plane that introduced thousands of people to the joy of flying and made "Cub" a synonym for small plane. 7.5%
Boeing 747 - Proved those wrong who doubted there would be enough passengers to make the "big bird" profitable. 4.6%
Controllable Pitch Propeller - Unlocked the key to getting full performance potential out of any engine. 1.6%
Air Traffic Control (ATC) Technology – Introduced a unified system of air traffic control. 3.7%
Learjet - Revolutionized business aviation and became synonymous with "business jet." 1.4%
De Havilland Comet & Boeing Dash 80 - Set the performance benchmark for the jet airliners that followed. 1.1%
“Eclipse is committed to revolutionizing the future of air transportation in the next century, so it is fitting that we sponsor the Greatest Aviation Innovations program which highlights and honors mankind's greatest aviation innovations for the first century of flight," said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. "Through our program, we are celebrating 100 years of aviation history and the spirit of innovation that was first exemplified by two bicycle makers from Ohio.”
"There can be no doubt that the introduction of the jet engine was one of the great turning points in the history of flight," said Dr. Tom Crouch, senior curator of aeronautics with the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, and one of the judges in the competition that identified the top 10 civil aviation innovations for voter consideration. "Independently invented by Dr. Hans von Ohain in Germany and Sir Frank Whittle in Great Britain, turbojet propulsion inaugurated the era of mass commercial air transportation."
Earlier this year, judges for the Greatest Aviation Innovations program selected the 10 aviation milestones that have most significantly benefited travelers by decreasing travel time, increasing comfort, reducing cost and improving air safety. In addition to Crouch, the other panelists included: Richard Collins of FLYING magazine; Scott Spangler of EAA AirVenture Museum; Jack Olcott of the National Business Aviation Association; Michael Fopp of the Royal Air Force Museum; and Sir Peter Masefield, aviation historian.
The Countdown to Kitty Hawk pavilion is located in Booth #4543. The NBAA Convention is being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
About the Jet Engine
By the mid-1940s, aircraft were sporting huge piston engines with up to 28 cylinders and 3,500 horsepower. Larger engines were on the drawing boards, but their complexity was daunting and their days numbered. British designer Frank Whittle bench-tested the first practical jet engine in England in 1937, but design problems kept it in the lab. The first operational jet airplane appeared in early 1944 - Germany's Messerschmitt 262 Schwalbe (Swallow). At 540 mph, the Me 262 was nearly 75 mph faster than its fastest piston-engined opponent. Introduced too late to change the course of World War II, the Me 262 still led the world into the jet age.
About EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk Presented by Ford Motor Company
EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk is a centennial celebration of the Wright brothers' first powered flight – an innovation that forever changed our world. Led by EAA, presented by Ford Motor Company and supported by Microsoft Flight Simulator, Eclipse Aviation and Northrop Grumman Corp, this yearlong series of inspirational events honors the innovation and determination it takes to make world-changing dreams a reality. Countdown to Kitty Hawk features an interactive touring pavilion and the world's most-accurate 1903 Wright flyer reproduction built by The Wright Experience that will exclusively re-enact the Wright brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 2003 – exactly 100 years later. www.countdowntokittyhawk.org
Eclipse Aviation made the announcement at the National Business Aviation Association's (NBAA) 56th Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando as part of its involvement in EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk, a yearlong celebration of the centennial of powered flight. The Albuquerque, N.M., developer of the Eclipse 500 jet is a sponsor of EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk presented by Ford Motor Company. Microsoft Flight Simulator and Northrop Grumman are also sponsors. The Countdown to Kitty Hawk touring pavilion, which includes interactive aviation exhibits and the world's most authentic 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction, was brought to NBAA this week by Eclipse and its sponsoring partners, including NBAA, Parker Aerospace, Mecaer, Mach 2 Management, Avidyne, Aerazur, EDS, Seamech and QualPro Strategies.
Through its presentation of the Greatest Aviation Innovations of the First 100 Years, Eclipse highlighted each of the 10 innovations with interactive displays in the Countdown to Kitty Hawk pavilion. Vote tallies and descriptions for each of these innovations include:
Eclipse Aviation's Greatest Aviation Innovations
1903 Wright Flyer - Pointed the way for all successful aircraft that followed it. 37.1%
Douglas DC-3/Boeing 247 - The first modern airliners. 3.4%
Jet Engine - The biggest advance in propulsion. 37.4%
Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter - Made vertical flight a reality. 2.2%
Piper Cub - The plane that introduced thousands of people to the joy of flying and made "Cub" a synonym for small plane. 7.5%
Boeing 747 - Proved those wrong who doubted there would be enough passengers to make the "big bird" profitable. 4.6%
Controllable Pitch Propeller - Unlocked the key to getting full performance potential out of any engine. 1.6%
Air Traffic Control (ATC) Technology – Introduced a unified system of air traffic control. 3.7%
Learjet - Revolutionized business aviation and became synonymous with "business jet." 1.4%
De Havilland Comet & Boeing Dash 80 - Set the performance benchmark for the jet airliners that followed. 1.1%
“Eclipse is committed to revolutionizing the future of air transportation in the next century, so it is fitting that we sponsor the Greatest Aviation Innovations program which highlights and honors mankind's greatest aviation innovations for the first century of flight," said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. "Through our program, we are celebrating 100 years of aviation history and the spirit of innovation that was first exemplified by two bicycle makers from Ohio.”
"There can be no doubt that the introduction of the jet engine was one of the great turning points in the history of flight," said Dr. Tom Crouch, senior curator of aeronautics with the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, and one of the judges in the competition that identified the top 10 civil aviation innovations for voter consideration. "Independently invented by Dr. Hans von Ohain in Germany and Sir Frank Whittle in Great Britain, turbojet propulsion inaugurated the era of mass commercial air transportation."
Earlier this year, judges for the Greatest Aviation Innovations program selected the 10 aviation milestones that have most significantly benefited travelers by decreasing travel time, increasing comfort, reducing cost and improving air safety. In addition to Crouch, the other panelists included: Richard Collins of FLYING magazine; Scott Spangler of EAA AirVenture Museum; Jack Olcott of the National Business Aviation Association; Michael Fopp of the Royal Air Force Museum; and Sir Peter Masefield, aviation historian.
The Countdown to Kitty Hawk pavilion is located in Booth #4543. The NBAA Convention is being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
About the Jet Engine
By the mid-1940s, aircraft were sporting huge piston engines with up to 28 cylinders and 3,500 horsepower. Larger engines were on the drawing boards, but their complexity was daunting and their days numbered. British designer Frank Whittle bench-tested the first practical jet engine in England in 1937, but design problems kept it in the lab. The first operational jet airplane appeared in early 1944 - Germany's Messerschmitt 262 Schwalbe (Swallow). At 540 mph, the Me 262 was nearly 75 mph faster than its fastest piston-engined opponent. Introduced too late to change the course of World War II, the Me 262 still led the world into the jet age.
About EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk Presented by Ford Motor Company
EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk is a centennial celebration of the Wright brothers' first powered flight – an innovation that forever changed our world. Led by EAA, presented by Ford Motor Company and supported by Microsoft Flight Simulator, Eclipse Aviation and Northrop Grumman Corp, this yearlong series of inspirational events honors the innovation and determination it takes to make world-changing dreams a reality. Countdown to Kitty Hawk features an interactive touring pavilion and the world's most-accurate 1903 Wright flyer reproduction built by The Wright Experience that will exclusively re-enact the Wright brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 2003 – exactly 100 years later. www.countdowntokittyhawk.org
About Eclipse:
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.