Eclipse Aviation rolled out its Eclipse 500 personal jet late last week at Albuquerque, New Mexico. The six-seater aircraft has been built using new manufacturing processes, with the aim of developing an aircraft costing less than a quarter of the price of today's small jet aircraft, at $837,500. Last month, the aircraft's Williams 770lb-thrust (3.4kN) EJ22 turbofan engines made their first flight, mounted on a modified Sabreliner 60. The first flight of the Eclipse 500 is planned before the end of this month. Eclipse last week suffered a setback, however, when it terminated a 1,000-aircraft order after launch customer Nimbus failed to meet a deposit deadline.
Source: Flight International
