The crisp Michigan air afforded a visibility of at least 30 or 40 miles as we approached Mackinac Island (KMCD) in Ken Ross’ Eclipse 550, N140NE. The airplane sported a jazzy black-and-gold paint job that already had me thinking the flight would be different from the one I’d taken in the original Eclipse nearly eight years earlier from Chicago Executive Airport. Sitting in the right seat and with me in the left, Ross suggested we shoot the GPS Runway 26 Approach at KMCD to give me ample time to align with the island’s single runway, a strip that can be tough to pick out on this island community where the trees easily outnumber the people.
We Fly: One Aviation Eclipse 550
Key Takeaways:
- The Eclipse 550 represents a significant upgrade from its predecessor, offering an integrated avionics suite, autothrottles, and anti-skid brakes for enhanced performance and reduced pilot workload in a very light jet.
- It provides owner-pilots with an efficient, reliable, and safe twin-engine jet capable of cruising at high altitudes (up to 41,000 ft) and speeds (360-370 knots) for about 1,000 nautical miles with 2-3 passengers.
- One Aviation offers a personalized and comprehensive training program for new Eclipse 550 owners, including upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) and a mentoring system, to ensure pilots are thoroughly prepared for confident jet operation.
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