Tue, Sep 27, 2005
Eclipse 500 Test Program Intensifies
Though they're not
quite rounding third for home base, YET, there's no denying that
the Eclipse 500 program is looking good for it's early 2006
Certification target. Eclipse continues to drive aggressively
towards FAA certification with an intense flight test schedule that
has now amassed 500 total flight hours. Each FAA-conforming Eclipse
500 test aircraft has demonstrated the ability to fly multiple
flights per day while safely and successfully completing
significant test points.
"Our recent progress demonstrates that we will deliver what we
promised to our customers - a jet that will withstand and exceed
the rigors of high-cycle operations," said Eclipse Aviation
president and CEO Vern Raburn.
"Our test aircraft are proving to be exactly what we intended
when we designed the Eclipse 500 - high performing, reliable and
easy to maintain."
Testing Milestones
The Eclipse 500 test fleet of FAA-conforming aircraft has
exceeded 500 flight hours, accelerating to speeds of 285 knots and
soaring to heights of 41,000 feet. The flight test fleet, which is
comprised of aircraft N502EA, N503EA, N504EA, N505EA and N506EA,
most recently completed critical testing milestones, including:
- Lightweight foreign object debris (FOD) testing at various
throttle settings up to take-off thrust, and at a variety of speeds
ranging from standstill to 70 knots
- Developmental water ingestion testing, which taxied the jet
through a � inch trough of water at speeds up to 100 knots
to simulate heavy rain conditions
- 20 landings in one day on one aircraft to test tire wear
- Achieving more than 100 test points on a single aircraft in one
day
- Endurance testing with single flight durations of more than
three hours
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