Eclipse Aviation has rolled out the first Eclipse 500 certification flight-test aircraft at its Albuquerque, New Mexico base as it prepares the very light jet for first flight by 31 December. Roll-out of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F-powered aircraft marks its transition from Eclipse's manufacturing organisation to the flight-test team, which was due to begin engine runs last week. Eclipse says it expects to have five test aircraft in the programme by the end of the third quarter of 2005 as well as airframes for static and fatigue testing. Certification of the Eclipse 500 is set for March 2006.
Source: Flight International
