New Eclipse

Isabel Goyer

Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 10:47 PM ET

Verified

Eclipse EA500 [Credit: Robert Goyer]

Key Takeaways:

The original Eclipse 500 project, despite initial hype and a Collier Trophy, suffered a spectacular $1 billion failure due to fundamental design flaws, engine changes, and an unsustainable air-taxi business model, resulting in incomplete aircraft deliveries.
Eclipse Aerospace, a new company formed by former customers and backed by Sikorsky, successfully resurrected the program by focusing on financial stability, parts supply, and upgrading the existing fleet to modern standards.
Despite its turbulent history, the EA500 is recognized as a remarkable engineering accomplishment, offering high performance (370 knots, 41,000 ft) and efficient, single-pilot operation for a very light jet.
The stable and debt-free Eclipse Aerospace now refurbishes and sells fully upgraded, FIKI-certified EA500s for $2.15 million, with aspirations for future new aircraft production.

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My first takeoff out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the EA500 was anything but an anticlimax. We’d just finished up our pre-takeoff check and Jerry Chambers, Eclipse Aerospace’s chief pilot, was giving me some last-minute advice on the takeoff when the tower came with a takeoff clearance, “No delay for landing 737 traffic, three-mile final.”

So without delay, I added a burst of power, turned the corner and rolled in the power. We accelerated smartly, and the wide runway at ABQ whizzed by beside us. I smiled and pulled back on the sidestick to rotate. We were flying.