Progress Includes Receipt Of Engines For Second FAA Conforming Test Aircraft

Eclipse Aviation Corporation, manufacturer of the revolutionary Eclipse 500 very light jet (VLJ), has announced a series of manufacturing milestones that demonstrate the company's continued progress toward certification in 2006.

The company's test aircraft fleet, comprised of seven Eclipse 500 aircraft, is nearing completion. Five test aircraft are now in final assembly positions. Eclipse has finalized all vertical fins and horizontal stabilizers for its entire flight test fleet, including instrumentation and strain gauges.

The upper and lower cabin assemblies for the test aircraft, N505EA and N506EA, were recently joined, while aircraft N502EA and N504EA are being instrumented for flight testing. The fuselage for the static test airframe has also been completed. These represent significant steps towards the successful completion of Eclipse's test fleet culminating in FAA certification of the Eclipse 500.

These test aircraft will join N503EA, which entered flight testing on December 31, 2004. Five aircraft will be used in flight testing and two for static and fatigue testing.

Eclipse recently received both PW610F engines for N502EA, the second FAA conforming Eclipse 500 test aircraft. N502EA is slated to enter flight testing in April. Eclipse is now in the process of completing engine installation checks and fitting the nacelles onto N502EA. Total test time for all PW610F engines, including time in the test cell, on the flying test bed and on the Eclipse 500 test aircraft N503EA, has reached 780 hours.

Eclipse also says its second friction stir welding gantry is now operational. With an additional 24 inches of "Z" height over the first gantry, the new gantry provides greater flexibility in joining parts. The new gantry also features upgraded software that gives operators improved control of the welding process.

FMI: www.eclipseaviation.com