Eclipse Aviation has selected Avidyne and BAE Systems to supply the complete avionics suite for its Eclipse 500 personal jet.
The selection combines "the innovation of a small company with the reliability and reputation of a large company", says Eclipse president Vern Raburn.
Avidyne is a leader in development of low-cost, open-architecture avionics based on commercial components, while BAE Systems' US-based Aircraft Controls division has experience developing avionics and flight controls for military aircraft.
The two companies will supply the complete electronics system, which will include as standard: large-screen liquid-crystal flight displays; global positioning system-based flight management systems; three-axis autopilot; air data and attitude heading reference systems; full-authority digital engine controls; and an aircraft utility control system. A full suite of radios and a colour weather radar will also be included as standard.
Avidyne and BAE Systems will work together. "We are not delving into who is doing what now," says Raburn. "We will go into detailed analysis over the next year."
Full instrument flight rules capability and certification for flight into known icing is included in the $837,500 list price revealed at the Experimental Aircraft Association show at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA (26 July-1 August).
This is greater than originally announced due to the higher equipment standard, says Raburn.
Eclipse has also announced performance guarantees for the aircraft. Maximum cruise speed will be 355kt (657km/h) and stall speed 62kt. Cruise speed has slowed from earlier predictions, but stall speed has dropped 5kt. This will improve safety in single-pilot operations, Raburn says. "Slowing the aircraft down gives good handling at the expense of high speed."
Range with four occupants will be 2,400km (1,300nm), 185km less than originally predicted, and useful load will be 907kg (2,000lb), a reduction of 23kg. Range is based on high-speed cruise, Raburn stresses. For customers carrying fewer passengers, Eclipse will offer an extended-range option. Two re-movable tip tanks will increase maximum range from 2,960km to 3,380km, with a reduction in maximum cruise speed to 345kt.
With price and performance guarantees in place, Eclipse is converting deposits into orders. The company has secured more than $30 million in deposits for over 160 aircraft. "All are non-refundable," Raburn says. If the aircraft does not meet its guarantees, Eclipse will offer to refund buyers.
The company displayed full-scale and fuselage mock-ups of the five-seat, all-metal Eclipse 500 at the show. Additional wind tunnel testing is under way, including initial tests with ice shapes, and the design is set to be frozen in September. First flight is set for the first quarter of 2002.
Source: Flight International