Aircraft Profile: Eclipse 500

Despite a number of delays and a certain amount of cynicism from some elements of the industry, the Eclipse 500 received its full production certificate from the FAA in April 2007 and began deliveries of its pioneering 5-seat VLJ.

Eclipse changed the engine from its original offer and now has the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F powering the 5,995 pounds max take off weight to a 41,000 feet ceiling in just over 30 minutes. It has a max cruise speed of 368 knots and a range of 1,130nm.It also changed avionics supplier from Avidyne and now has a partnership with a range of suppliers under the Avio NG banner.

The company announced Europe’s biggest ever single aircraft order at EBACE in May 2007 when Eastern European distributor ETIRC Aviation Europe (ETIRC Aviation) placed an order for 180 Eclipse 500 aircraft, including 120 firm and 60 options taking the Eclipse 500 order book to around 2,700 units, with he biggest customer to date being Florida air taxi firm Day Jet who have plans for more than 300 of the aircraft.

Heritage:

The first test Eclipse 500 aircraft made its maiden flight in August 2002 with Williams EJ22 engines, however, in November of the same year, Eclipse decided to replace the 500 engines with Pratt & Whitney Canada engines.

First flight with the new engines was in December 2004 and the aircraft received provisional type certification from the FAA on July 27, 2006; shortly after the aircraft's PW610F engine was certified by the Canadian authorities. Full type certification was awarded in September 2006 and production certification in April 2007.