Eclipse Aerospace EA500: Walk-Around and Cockpit Briefing

By Carmelo Turdo

The Eclipse Aerospace EA500 and new EA550 are getting renewed attention in recent years as the newly-restructured company re-enters the Very Light Jet market.  The performance and price point of the aircraft are attractive to individuals and charter services who need extremely efficient jet performance at an inviting price (yes, under $3 million is very inviting).  The aircraft, in operation since 2007 (as the EA500), offers a single rated pilot and four passengers a great ride - zipping along at 375kts. at 41,000 feet for 1100 miles, burning only 60 gallons of gas per hour, in modern, pressurized comfort. Over 250 of the original EA500 VLJs were sold, and more are being upgraded to the Total Eclipse current production standard.  The EA550 offers the same performance in new-build aircraft with upgraded systems and full warranties and support for airframe and engine from Eclipse Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney Canada. 

The Aero Experience has been featuring the Eclipse EA500 in various posts since we noticed several of the aircraft regularly landing at St. Louis Downtown Airport.  After several conversations with company co-founder and local resident Mike Press, we began to look for new opportunities to learn about the aircraft.  We have also featured Ken Ross, President of Global Services, who has a great enthusiasm for the aircraft and is always willing to show it off.  During the 2012 Great Plains Air Expo, Ross was very accommodating, opening the jet for our inspection and demonstrating the Integrated Flight Management System.  We will now take another look at the EA500 we toured last year and bring you into the cockpit for our demo.

 

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2013: Eclipse Aerospace Has Major Presence on the Ground and In the Air

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience continues our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2013 by bringing to our audience the Eclipse Aerospace  EA500 Very Light Jet (VLT).  The Eclipse Aerospace exhibit this year featured EA500 N61HF (s/n 12) from the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC).  This aircraft, donated to the VAC and upgraded to Total Eclipse standards, serves to fulfill the VAC's mission of providing free air transportation to wounded veterans and their families for medical purposes.  Outside of using the Eclipse (and a Citation Mustang donated by Cessna Aircraft Company), the VAC generally relies on volunteer pilots and private aircraft.  Eclipse Aerospace also featured EA500 N875NA (s/n 18) in flight demonstrations during the daily airshows, impressing the crowd with its quiet and graceful performance.  Both aircraft appear below during several encounters throughout the week-long event.

For some background on the Eclipse EA500/EA550 series of Very Light Jet, we refer to our  feature article covering the visit to St. Louis by company partners Mike Press and Ken Ross earlier this year:

The EA500, which essentially launched the VLJ class of aircraft, has since been produced as the Total Eclipse from previously unsold production kits.  The new production model, the EA550, will be available in 2014 and will include upgrades to the integrated flight management system, the addition of synthetic vision and enhanced vision navigation capabilities, and other internal enhancements.  The basic performance of the Eclipse EA550 will mirror its predecessor: flying up to 5 passengers and crew 375kts. at  41,000 feet, using about 55 gallons of fuel/hour for a 1,000nm flight.  There are bigger business jets, and there are many that fly faster or farther, but the EA550 will be the leader in its class with a modern support network around the world.  Mr. Press added that Eclipse Aerospace will respond to an expected Request For Proposals from the U.S. Air Force for a replacement for the current fleet of T-1 Jayhawk training jets.  Press estimated that the EA550 would save the U.S. Air Force 9 million gallons of fuel, or nearly $50,000,000 per year in fuel and maintenance costs over the current aircraft fleet.  

The Aero Experience looks forward to further interaction with the Eclipse Very Light Jet as the EA550 becomes integrated into current fleet operations. We are also very pleased to hear that an Eclipse VLJ will be part of Corey Tomczak's St. Louis Flight Solutions fractional ownership program. 

 

The Aero Experience captured the setup of the Eclipse exhibit on the weekend prior to EAA Oshkosh AirVenture 2013 as the VAC Eclipse EA500 VLJ was towed into position:

 

Another Eclipse EA500 was used for the flight demonstrations:

 

Eclipse Aerospace EA500 Jet in the St. Louis Spotlight This Weekend

Ken Ross

By Carmelo Turdo

The Eclipse Aerospace EA500 Very Light Jet (VLJ) is in the spotlight this weekend at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield.  The aircraft, flown by President of Global Services Ken Ross, arrived Friday morning for viewing at the monthly Greater St. Louis Business Aviation  Association (GSLBAA) 

meeting. The jet will be available for an Eclipse Jet Experience Aircraft Flight Demonstration through Sunday.  Mike Press, Executive Vice President and co-founder of Eclipse Aerospace, and David Coleman, North Central Regional Sales Executive, were also present at Friday's GSLBAA meeting to introduce the jet and discuss its performance with members and guests gathered in the immaculate Monsanto Corporate Aviation hangar. 

 

Mike Press (L) and Ken Ross

Following the aircraft viewing session, Mr. Ross discussed the great progress achieved by Eclipse Aerospace since its rebirth in September 2009.  The EA500, which essentially launched the VLJ class of aircraft, has since been produced as the Total Eclipse from previously unsold production kits.  The new production model, the EA550, will be available later this year and will include upgrades to the integrated flight management system, the addition of synthetic vision and enhanced vision navigation capabilities, and other internal enhancements.  The basic performance of the Eclipse EA550 will mirror its predecessor: flying up to 5 passengers and crew 375kts. at  41,000 feet, using about 55 gallons of fuel/hour for a 1,000nm flight.  There are bigger business jets, and there are many that fly faster or farther, but the EA550 will be the leader in its class with a modern support network around the world.  Mr. Press added that Eclipse Aerospace will respond to an expected Request For Proposals from the U.S. Air Force for a replacement for the current fleet of T-1 Jayhawk training jets.  Press estimated that the EA550 would save the U.S. Air Force 9 million gallons of fuel, or nearly $50,000,000 per year in fuel and maintenance costs over the current aircraft fleet.  

 

(The Aero Experience will provide a series of posts covering the return of Eclipse Aerospace to the VLJ market leading up to the certification of the EA550 later this year).

Here are some more images from today's GSLBAA aircraft viewing:

  

      

Special thanks to the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association, Monsanto Corporate Aviation, Eclipse Aerospace and Spirit of St. Louis Airport for producing this event.