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The New Eclipse 400 Jet AircraftEclipse Aviation Re-Names and Markets Eclipse Concept JetThe Eclipse Concept Jet (ECJ), originally said to be only for market research, is now to get a new name and be sold as the Eclipse 400.
Very Light Jet (VLJ) manufacturer Eclipse unveiled a new aircraft, the Eclipse Concept Jet, at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) AirVenture show at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 2007. At the time Eclipse said the aircraft was for market research purposes only. However, after ten months of quantative and qualitative research, the company is now convinced that the new aeroplane is right for the ever-growing single-engine jet market. Therefore Eclipse Chief Executive Officer Vern Raburn recently announced at the company’s tenth anniversary owners’ gathering that his company intended to market the new aircraft, now renamed as the Eclipse 400. Details of the Eclipse 400The new aircraft is a single jet, V-tailed design with seating for four people. It will be powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F engine. Eclipse says that the jet should be capable of 345 knots, and will be certified to fly at FL410, which is higher than several other VLJs. It will have a range of 1,250 nautical miles, and is equipped with Avio NG avionics. Being able to operate at higher altitudes should save fuel and therefore costs, and Mr Raburn claimed it would be the world’s most fuel-efficient aircraft. When Can the Aircraft be Bought, and How Much Will it Cost?According to Mr Raburn, existing Eclipse customers will be offered the jet before it goes on the open market. Current Eclipse 500 owners have until the 2011 AirVenture show, which runs from July 28th – August 3rd, to place their orders for the new tiny jet aircraft. It is then scheduled to go on sale towards the end of 2011, with an estimated price tag of $1.35 million. According to Eclipse, this is cheaper than any other single engine jet currently on the market. Who Will Buy the Eclipse 400?The new aircraft is expected to appeal to air taxi operators, who will be attracted to the low price and minimal fuel costs. This is also likely to be popular with private owners of smaller aircraft, who are perhaps considering moving upwards and buying their first jet. Eclipse have described owning the Eclipse 400 as “a personal and exhilarating ownership experience”, and according to Mr Raburn, “people just love this aeroplane”. In summary, the Eclipse 400 is the perfect aircraft for pilots ready to step up to a jet, and this sporty single-engine jet is the logical next step for Eclipse Aviation. SourcesToday’s Pilot, August 2008 Related ArticlesCessna 152: Popular GA Aircraft
The copyright of the article The New Eclipse 400 Jet Aircraft in Commercial Aviation is owned by Helen Krasner. Permission to republish The New Eclipse 400 Jet Aircraft in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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