Third Conforming Aircraft In The Air... Formation, Anyone?

ANN has just finished a chat with Eclipse CEO, Vern Raburn, conforming that they now have THREE conforming test vehicles in the air. After last week's cross-country by N503EA, shortly after the first flight of N502EA, the test program at Eclipse now appears to be moving at a fever pitch.

The flight lasted about an hour and occurred without any significant gigs or problems -- about par for a program that spent several weeks fighting weather and a number of minor but annoying issues, but NOW seems to be sailing along at a breathtaking pace. 

Eclipse Statement On First Flight Of N504EA

Eclipse Aviation today completed the maiden flight of the third FAA conforming Eclipse 500 very light jet (VLJ) with tail number N504EA. N504EA joins the test fleet just one week after the second test aircraft, N502EA, flew for the first time on April 14. With three VLJs now in active flight testing, Eclipse continues to demonstrate rapid progress toward FAA certification in Q1 2006.

Aircraft N504EA took off from the Albuquerque International Sunport at 2:10 p.m. MDT today and completed a one hour test flight. The aircraft, powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PW610F turbofan engines, was piloted by test pilots Ed Grabman and Brian Mathy and successfully completed all tests including handling qualities at various flap settings, flap and trim operations, cabin pressurization, avionics, and electrical system testing. The flights were conducted in a designated test zone located south of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Aircraft N503EA flew as chase plane for today’s flight.

During its first flight, N504EA reached 16,800 feet and accelerated to 170 knots. N504EA flight testing will primarily focus on the electrical system, displays, communication and navigation system, auto-pilot system, the radar and the datalink systems. Like Eclipse’s first two flight test aircraft, N504EA is fully equipped with mechanical systems including pressurization, climate control and ice protection as well as the Avio Total Aircraft Integration system.

The Eclipse 500 test fleet has amassed more than 40 flight test hours since April 1, as the pace of testing continues to accelerate. The flight envelope has been expanded to 30,000 ft and speeds ranging from 72 to 230 kts. N503EA recently completed a cross country trip to the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Florida.

“The Eclipse team is focused on achieving certification and delivering aircraft to our customers less than a year from now. To fly our third aircraft just a week after the second one entered flight testing is a great achievement and a clear sign of the maturity of the program. I am so proud of all of the hard work that this team has given to this program,” said Eclipse Aviation President and CEO Vern Raburn.

FMI: www.eclipseaviation.com