Eclipse Take Delivery Of Landing Gear For Test Aircraft

Eclipse Aviation says it's received the landing gear assembly from Mecaer for Aircraft N502EA, Eclipse's first certification flight test aircraft. Aircraft N502EA, which will feature Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PW610F engines, is on schedule to make its first flight in Q4 2004.

"Mecaer is proud to manufacture the landing gear for the Eclipse 500, an aircraft that is setting a new standard for jet price and performance," said Pier Ughi, CEO of Mecaer. "We share Eclipse's belief that this aircraft will forever change the way people travel, and look forward to working closely with Eclipse to help make this vision a reality."

Attendees also received an update on the Eclipse 500 development program, including testing of the next-generation PW610F engine and the manufacture of the Eclipse 500 jet. 

"Our strategy is to seek out the best suppliers worldwide, and it is exciting to see the components for our seven pre-production aircraft arriving ahead of schedule from leading manufacturers throughout the world," said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. "We look forward to continuing to collaborate with this world-class network of international partners as we advance successfully towards FAA certification in early 2006 and JAA/EASA certification by the end of 2006."

The worldwide Eclipse 500 supplier team is composed of US and international aviation leaders. In addition to Mecaer, this growing group of suppliers includes Hampson Industries, a principal supplier of airframe components to Airbus and Rolls-Royce; Fuji Heavy Industries, which manufactures the center-wing section of the Boeing 777; Pratt & Whitney Canada, a world leader in aviation engines powering business, general aviation and regional aircraft, and helicopters; and Enaer, which has more than 70 years of experience in aviation and is one of the most important aeronautic centers in Latin America.

PW610F Engine Achieves Testing Milestone

P&WC recently successfully completed the first run of the PW610F, which achieved its rated takeoff thrust of 900 pounds. Wright also stated that the PW610F development engine has run for more than 25 hours in their test cell. The PW610F is on track to undergo flight trials on P&WC's flying test bed in August 2004, and deliveries of the first prototype engines to Eclipse are expected to begin in December.

Most of the cabin panels for N502EA have been assembled using friction stir welding, and are now being integrated into the full cabin assembly process. Friction stir welding of the cabin panels for the next two conforming flight test aircraft, N503EA and N504EA, has also begun. The Eclipse flight test and certification program encompasses a total of eight aircraft.

FMI: www.EclipseAviation.com