Eclipse Aviation has set a new certification date and price for its Eclipse 500 personal jet after selecting the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F turbofan to replace the Williams International EJ22s on the aircraft. US certification and first customer deliveries have slipped 25 months to the first quarter of 2006.
The price has increased to $950,000 for the first 2,200 aircraft and to $1.175 million thereafter. Eclipse holds orders and options for 2,100 aircraft, 575 from individual customers and the rest from fleet operators, says chief executive Vern Raburn. Performance increases with the 900lb -thrust (4kN) PW610F, including a 20kt (37km/h) higher maximum cruise speed.
Selection of the P&WC engine comes just weeks after the 1,300lb-thrust PW615F was chosen to power Cessna's entry-level Citation Mustang, launching the small turbofan programme. The PW610F is a scaled version of the Mustang engine, with fan diameter reduced to 355mm (14in) from 405mm, says president Alain Bellemare.
The PW615F is scheduled for certification in late 2005, and the smaller engine in the first quarter of 2006. P&WC will deliver flight test engines late in 2004, Bellemare says.
Source: Flight International
