Eclipse Aviation now has six customer aircraft on the production line as test fleet nears completion of FAA certification testing

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — May 30, 2006 — Today Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the revolutionary Eclipse 500 very light jet (VLJ), can see FAA certification on the horizon as the Eclipse 500 test fleet has exceeded 2,000 flight hours and completed the majority of required FAA certification testing. The company also announced that six customer Eclipse 500 VLJs are in various assembly positions on the production line. The Eclipse 500 is on track to achieve FAA certification by the end of this quarter and will be the first VLJ to market.

“Our test fleet of five Eclipse 500s continues to burn test points and build hours at a rapid rate. We accumulated more than 300 flight hours in the last four weeks,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. “I am also thrilled to see the production line coming to life. Last weekend, the first customer Eclipse 500 forward fuselage was mated to the aft fuselage.”

Eclipse 500 Test Fleet Recent Achievements

The Eclipse 500 continues to lead the VLJ market with significant accomplishments in aircraft testing. Recent milestones include successful completion of:

All installed-engine operational certification tests, including engine operating characteristics, restarts, cooling and ventilation, engine exhaust influence on airframe temperature, vibration, negative-g and powerplant drainage
Unusable fuel and hot fuel certification tests
Cabin air smoke clearing certification tests
Flight test points and data collection in support of Part 36 noise certification
Climate control system certification ground testing
All fuel system certification ground tests
Production Line Growing

The Eclipse 500 production line now has six aircraft in various assembly positions. P1 recently completed fuselage mate and is in position seven awaiting wing mate. P2 and P3 have been moved off the production tools and are in cabin build-up. The next three (P4, P5 and P6) production aircraft have completed friction stir welding and are in sub-assembly build-up. P1 will be delivered shortly after FAA certification
About Eclipse

http://www.eclipseaviation.com.

Press Contacts
Andrew Broom
Original Release