Firm orders rise to over 2,130 and deposits to $65 million as tests remain on track
Eclipse Aviation's production Eclipse 500 very light jet is expected to make its maiden flight at Albuquerque, New Mexico before the end of December.
"Hopefully, we'll have three aircraft flying by the end of January," says chief executive Vern Raburn, who adds that a December first flight will be "on the schedule we set two years ago". The first aircraft's fuselage was expected to be mated with the wing on 12 November, coinciding with a planned customer review meeting to be held in Albuquerque.
In addition to the first three certification aircraft, Eclipse plans to add fatigue and static airframes in January and April, respectively, with the former due to undergo testing to simulate the Eclipse's 20,000 cycle/20-year design life. Two additional "beta" test aircraft will also join the programme early in 2005 to simulate a full service life of around 1,000 cycles each.
Firm orders have risen to 2,132 taking total non-refundable deposits to $65 million. Plans remain on track to assemble 260 aircraft in the first 12 months, and up to 880 in the second. "A rate of three aircraft a day is supportable," says Raburn, who adds $326 million in equity funding has been raised so far. "We have raised more capital than all the other start-ups put together," he says. The total estimated programme cost remains "between $350 million and $450 million".
Raburn says Eclipse is "on track" for US Federal Aviation Administration certification in the first quarter of 2006.
GUY NORRIS / PALM SPRINGS
Source: Flight International
