With all 173 Eclipse Aviation employees now figuratively under one roof at Sunport International Airport in Albuquerque, N.M., the company expects to begin assembly this month of its first flight-test airplane in preparation for the model’s initial flight next July. As planned, this aircraft, like the other four flying airplanes and two static-test airframes planned for the development program, will conform with the production Eclipse 500s to help facilitate certification, scheduled for December 2003. The first customer delivery is planned for January 2004.
Some 126 Eclipse employees had been using offices rented from Williams International in Walled Lake, Mich., while they worked jointly with Williams engineers. In July Eclipse announced it had assumed “all responsibility for completion of the Eclipse 500 aircraft development, assembly and certification program,” whereas earlier Williams was under contract for the design and certification of the airframe and manufacturing facilities. Williams remains the engine supplier for the EJ22-powered Eclipse.
More In Aircraft
