Initial Flight Test Program Complete
Eclipse just announced that it has retired its first test
aircraft after successfully completing its aggressive 54-hour test
program. The company said, "Testing confirmed that the Eclipse 500
requires no significant redesigns and remains on track for
certification in 2006. The Eclipse 500 will set new standards in
jet safety, performance and value using today's most innovative
digital and manufacturing technologies."
Eclipse used progressive testing techniques and a sophisticated
telemetry system to measure and analyze Eclipse 500 performance in
55 flights as well as in extensive ground tests. Eclipse's advanced
data acquisition system significantly accelerated the progress of
this intense testing program, in which each flight generated
actionable data. On every flight, engineers were able to examine
more than 600 aircraft parameters in real-time and record 5-6
gigabytes of data for analysis; this represents 10 times more data
than traditional aircraft development programs. As a result,
Aircraft 100's 55 flights produced a level of information that
would normally require 150 to 200 hours of flight testing using
conventional limited test procedures and data acquisition
equipment.
"This airplane has not only enabled our engineers to validate
all of the aerodynamic data that was predicted in the wind tunnel,
but has also given us the valuable information we need to start
building our certification and production aircraft," said Vern
Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. "Testing has proven
what we have always known: the Eclipse 500 is poised to completely
change the value proposition for jet travel and dramatically
improve air transportation in the second century of flight.."
Aircraft 100 Masters Flight Tests
Built on production tooling and equipped with interim engines
from Teledyne Continental Motors, Aircraft 100 allowed Eclipse to
successfully advance its flight test program while waiting for
Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW610F engines, which will be used on
the production aircraft.
Aircraft 100 completed a total of 54 hours of flying time in 55
flights as well as extensive ground testing. The test program
included the completion and analysis of 117 stalls with the flaps,
landing gear and center of gravity in various positions. Handling
qualities were exactly as predicted from wind tunnel testing, and
results showed better stall speeds than predicted. Ground vibration
and in-flight flutter testing confirmed flutter models and freedom
from flutter throughout the tested envelope. The program also
included testing and optimization of the braking and steering
systems.
In addition to traditional testing of stabilities and stalls,
specific tests were conducted for "parameter identification." These
tests provided deeper insight into the characteristic behavior of
the aircraft and resulted in more accurate extrapolation of the
flight envelope that was not explored by Aircraft 100.
Safety has always been the top priority during the aircraft 100
flight test program. This resulted in extensive engineering and
investment to support the installation of a pilot emergency egress
system and a stall chute.
Eclipse achieved its key objectives for Aircraft 100, which were
to complement wind tunnel testing with pilot assessment and
engineering analysis of flight handling characteristics and
mechanical and avionics system performance. Maneuvers were designed
to confirm analytical predictions and identify any areas where
redesigns might be warranted. To accomplish this, test pilots
concentrated on low-to-medium-speed handling qualities, as well as
stall characteristics and speeds.
Most flights were conducted with weights close to the maximum
take-off weight of the production aircraft and at center of gravity
positions that correspond to those of the production
aircraft. The majority of testing was completed under 17,500
ft altitude and below 200 knots.