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Mecaer Landing Gear Touches Down at Eclipse
Eclipse takes delivery of landing gear for first certification flight test aircraft; highlights engine and manufacturing progress
European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE), GENEVA, Switzerland - May 24, 2004 - At a press conference held today at EBACE, Eclipse Aviation received the landing gear assembly from Mecaer for Aircraft N502EA, Eclipse's first certification flight test aircraft. Aircraft N502EA, which will feature Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PW610F engines, is on schedule to make its first flight in Q4 2004.
“Mecaer is proud to manufacture the landing gear for the Eclipse 500, an aircraft that is setting a new standard for jet price and performance,” said Pier Ughi, CEO of Mecaer. “We share Eclipse's belief that this aircraft will forever change the way people travel, and look forward to working closely with Eclipse to help make this vision a reality.”
Attendees also received an update on the Eclipse 500 development program, including testing of the next-generation PW610F engine and the manufacture of the Eclipse 500 jet.
“Our strategy is to seek out the best suppliers worldwide, and it is exciting to see the components for our seven pre-production aircraft arriving ahead of schedule from leading manufacturers throughout the world,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate with this world-class network of international partners as we advance successfully towards FAA certification in early 2006 and JAA/EASA certification by the end of 2006.”
The worldwide Eclipse 500 supplier team is composed of U.S. and international aviation leaders. In addition to Mercaer, this growing group of suppliers includes Hampson Industries, a principal supplier of airframe components to Airbus and Rolls-Royce; Fuji Heavy Industries, which manufactures the center-wing section of the Boeing 777; Pratt & Whitney Canada, a world leader in aviation engines powering business, general aviation and regional aircraft, and helicopters; and Enaer, which has more than 70 years of experience in aviation and is one of the most important aeronautic centers in Latin America.
PW610F Engine Achieves Testing Milestone
Also today, John Wright, Pratt & Whitney Canada's VP of Business Aviation and Military Engines, delivered a development and testing update on the new PW610F turbofan engine that will power the Eclipse 500. P&WC recently successfully completed the first run of the PW610F, which achieved its rated takeoff thrust of 900 pounds. Wright also stated that the PW610F development engine has run for more than 25 hours in their test cell. The PW610F is on track to undergo flight trials on P&WC's flying test bed in August 2004, and deliveries of the first prototype engines to Eclipse are expected to begin in December.
Eclipse Kicks Off Manufacturing of Three Certification Flight Test Aircraft
Eclipse also outlined recent Eclipse 500 manufacturing developments, including the initiation of manufacturing of its three certification flight test aircraft, all of which will feature P&WC PW610F engines. Most of the cabin panels for N502EA have been assembled using friction stir welding, and are now being integrated into the full cabin assembly process. Friction stir welding of the cabin panels for the next two conforming flight test aircraft, N503EA and N504EA, has also begun. The Eclipse flight test and certification program encompasses a total of eight aircraft.
About Mecaer
Mecaer is a supplier of hydraulic and mechanical systems for the aerospace market, including flight control and landing gear systems. Based in Italy with manufacturing facilities in Canada, Mecaer's aeronautic expertise is in the design, development, manufacture, and certification of primary components including mechanical and hydraulic flight controls systems, landing gears (both wheeled and skid), hydraulic subsystems and components. The Mecaer Group also controls SEI S.p.A., a leading Italian maintenance and completion center for helicopters and light aircraft, which provides full turnkey service to both OEM's and Operators.
“Mecaer is proud to manufacture the landing gear for the Eclipse 500, an aircraft that is setting a new standard for jet price and performance,” said Pier Ughi, CEO of Mecaer. “We share Eclipse's belief that this aircraft will forever change the way people travel, and look forward to working closely with Eclipse to help make this vision a reality.”
Attendees also received an update on the Eclipse 500 development program, including testing of the next-generation PW610F engine and the manufacture of the Eclipse 500 jet.
“Our strategy is to seek out the best suppliers worldwide, and it is exciting to see the components for our seven pre-production aircraft arriving ahead of schedule from leading manufacturers throughout the world,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate with this world-class network of international partners as we advance successfully towards FAA certification in early 2006 and JAA/EASA certification by the end of 2006.”
The worldwide Eclipse 500 supplier team is composed of U.S. and international aviation leaders. In addition to Mercaer, this growing group of suppliers includes Hampson Industries, a principal supplier of airframe components to Airbus and Rolls-Royce; Fuji Heavy Industries, which manufactures the center-wing section of the Boeing 777; Pratt & Whitney Canada, a world leader in aviation engines powering business, general aviation and regional aircraft, and helicopters; and Enaer, which has more than 70 years of experience in aviation and is one of the most important aeronautic centers in Latin America.
PW610F Engine Achieves Testing Milestone
Also today, John Wright, Pratt & Whitney Canada's VP of Business Aviation and Military Engines, delivered a development and testing update on the new PW610F turbofan engine that will power the Eclipse 500. P&WC recently successfully completed the first run of the PW610F, which achieved its rated takeoff thrust of 900 pounds. Wright also stated that the PW610F development engine has run for more than 25 hours in their test cell. The PW610F is on track to undergo flight trials on P&WC's flying test bed in August 2004, and deliveries of the first prototype engines to Eclipse are expected to begin in December.
Eclipse Kicks Off Manufacturing of Three Certification Flight Test Aircraft
Eclipse also outlined recent Eclipse 500 manufacturing developments, including the initiation of manufacturing of its three certification flight test aircraft, all of which will feature P&WC PW610F engines. Most of the cabin panels for N502EA have been assembled using friction stir welding, and are now being integrated into the full cabin assembly process. Friction stir welding of the cabin panels for the next two conforming flight test aircraft, N503EA and N504EA, has also begun. The Eclipse flight test and certification program encompasses a total of eight aircraft.
About Mecaer
Mecaer is a supplier of hydraulic and mechanical systems for the aerospace market, including flight control and landing gear systems. Based in Italy with manufacturing facilities in Canada, Mecaer's aeronautic expertise is in the design, development, manufacture, and certification of primary components including mechanical and hydraulic flight controls systems, landing gears (both wheeled and skid), hydraulic subsystems and components. The Mecaer Group also controls SEI S.p.A., a leading Italian maintenance and completion center for helicopters and light aircraft, which provides full turnkey service to both OEM's and Operators.
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.