Don't Fear, Two Engine Choices Are Fighting to Take EJ22's Place

While details are still a mite sketchy, the nosy powers-that-be at ANN have managed to score some exclusive, breaking, news with the revelation that Eclipse Aviation has terminated its contractual relationship with jet engine manufacturer Williams International.

"I can't say a whole lot yet, but I can confirm we have officially terminated our contract with Williams," says Eclipse Evangelist Vern Raburn.

"Really, all I can say is, because of legal issues, is that it's due to non-performance."

After a "a pretty long assessment," Raburn (right) and company determined that "we're just not going to get there with their (Williams) engine. This is not a problem of 'just wait an extra six months.' This is a real mission-fundamental problem… from a standpoint of schedule, it's simply indeterminate as to when the engine would actually be done. Even then, we've come to the conclusion that there are some really severe durability problems with the engine."

Now, one would naturally think that this would leave Eclipse between the proverbial rock and the hard place… but Raburn is well-known for keeping a backup (or two or three) at the ready. Since the engine program was easily the most-critical and problematic portion of the three-prong approach (manufacturing development, airframe development, and engine adaptation) to the ultimate completion of the aircraft, he's kept a number of options open in regards to other potential engine choices.

The result of this foresight is that there is now "a pretty heated engine competition going on between two very large engine companies for the (Williams) replacement."

While Raburn will not go on the record about the ID of those involved in fielding a replacement for the EJ22, ANN can confirm (based on previous off-the-record exchanges) that this matter has been considered for quite some time.

Raburn's insistence on his having prepared for such a possibility is, in fact, quite true.
While Eclipse was waiting for a better time to discuss this (i.e., a final replacement engine selection), he was willing to go on the record with ANN to air their concerns and issues before the ravenous rumor mill went to work.

"There are a lot of people who want to see us fail… and we're not only not going to give them the satisfaction, we're more confident in our program now than we've been in several months" (which is a lot to say when you consider the ultra-positive persona put forth by Raburn).

"The unfortunate part of this whole thing is that people are going to use this as a 'see -- Eclipse is all screwed-up' (put-down) and I gotta tell you that Eclipse isn't 'all screwed up' at all… the problem is completely and totally with the engine."

What does this do to the Eclipse Mission?

"There's no question… there's going to be a delay. And I can't say how much yet. Until we select the replacement engine, I simply can't say (how much). The program is now paced by engine development, but NOT in any shape, form, or fashion by airframe development."

As to the continuation of the aircraft development program, Raburn is upbeat but wary… they are exploring a program option which would allow them to gather aerodynamic data with temporary powerplants until a final selection can be made and installed.

Raburn says, "We are exploring those alternatives… we're pretty optimistic that we're going to be able to do a lot of things in the interim, but I can't quite give you the hard data yet. There are a LOT of things coming together very fast and we're going to have much more information in a really short period of time… I mean, that I measure that in a matter of days, and not weeks. But until it's definitive, I can't say any more…"

Raburn emphasizes a number of bullet points for the moment… "We're really excited about the other opportunities we have--from an engine standpoint. When we started this project, there was only one company in the world that wanted to build an engine in this thrust class, and that was Williams. What has since occurred is that there is now a huge amount of interest in such engines, and we have whittled that interest down to two different companies. We're really damned excited about what's going to happen."

Raburn will not expound on the challenges that are put forth by either choice; but each, he says, "has strong merits."

"We're far enough into the analysis to know, though, that we're going to end up with a better airplane. It will be a little bit heavier airplane… but I think it's fair to say it will have a little bit more thrust -- and thrust cures a multitude of ills (laughing). We're really happy with how the airplane is coming out, because I will tell you that ALL of our performance guarantees WILL be met."

"Either [engine choice] will produce a better airplane, but because of what had transpired with the Williams engine, I think you're going to find that the benefits that were supposedly accruing to that engine just weren't that great. The risk/reward ratio has not proven to be what Sam (Williams) thought it was going to be."

Yeah… But About That "Under-Million Dollar" Price Tag…

Raburn surprised us with one revelation. The Eclipse is not going to turn into a million-dollar-plus bird. " I think its going to still be a sub-million dollar aircraft. The real cost savings we've been able to effect have been much more [prominent] on the airframe side than what supposedly was going to happen to the engine side. The balance works out. I don't think the world understands how much sophistication exists (and this is no one's fault but our own) in this aircraft, from a systems standpoint. That's [because] it's hard to talk about these things since the subject is so esoteric. Anyone who visits (E-I-C Note: As ANN has, and can confirm so far), does start to get the picture, and a chance to see how far all that stuff has already come and how much of a cost savings has been effected through structures, systems and the way we control the aircraft. There may be a price increase, I really don't know, but I don't see any way in the world that this airplane is going to be over a million dollars."

More info to follow…

FMI: www.eclipseaviation.com, www.williams-int.com