Eclipse: First Flight (Revolutionary Jet, First Flight!!)

Aero-News.net ^ | 08/26/2002 | Jim "Zoom" Campbell

[taildragger]

Big Bump !!!!!

[1Old Pro]

The Eclipse 500 will allow travelers to fly point-to-point to more than 10,000 airports in the U.S. alone,

Someone had better clear this with the FAA. Can their tube laden equipment keep the skies safe?

[Restorer]

The Eclipse 500 will allow travelers to fly point-to-point to more than 10,000 airports in the U.S. alone, ushering in an age where point-to-point private jet travel will be available to everyone at affordable prices.

Sounds like a lot of federalized security screeners to me!

[Tijeras_Slim]

As an New Mexican who's toured Eclipse's facilities and seen the mockup, I'm really glad everything went well on the first flight. This will mean good things for our economy and lots of opportunities.

Extra big Vern Rayburn BUMP!

[taildragger]

No that's the point, No more Daschel-ized $13 per/hr McSecurity Guard busting your Grandma's chops for having her knitting needles with her.

[Momaw Nadon]

[Gritty]

This is probably the future of a lot of business travel we're looking at here.

That's bad news for the major carriers.

[decimon]

[taildragger]

Exactly Gritty. It is a "Disruptive Technolgy" i.e. once introduced and commercialized you can't go back, i.e. the Personal computer and Windows. The Major Carriers may adapt, but as far as I know Boeing, Airbus, GE and Pratt and Whitney have no trump cards. The engine is made by Williams Intl in Walled Lake, MI.

[RicocheT]

I've seen the Eclipse 500 business jet displays at the air shows in Oshkosh, WI and Lakeland, FL. It is a sweet looking, fast 6 seat business jet with great avionics. At just under one million $, it will sell as fast as they can build it.

[kidd]

I occasionally fly in a 9 passenger jet from a shuttle terminal. It beats flying commercial any day - I park my car 100 feet from the jet, there's no security checks, and after all the passengers arrive at the terminal - we simply get on the plane and leave - often 20 minutes early. We help ourselves to drinks/snacks and the ride is very comfortable. And it costs slightly less than flying commercial. This is good news for everybody except the large cumbersome airports.

[taildragger]

Ya Ricoche, I have seen it @ Oshkosh as well. it is a nice piece of work.

[FReepaholic]

>>...test pilot, Bill Bubb...<<

What's all the hubub..bub?

[madvlad]

Disruptive technology? Its just an inexpensive
version of the Lear jet or the Bombadier private
line! The disruptive technology will occur
in the form of extra-atmospheric transport.

A disruptive technology usually occurs at the
low end of the market, causing the firmly
entrenched players to retreat upmarket.
I doubt Ma and Pa Kettle and their kids are
going to book flights on these aircraft
except maybe for the short hauls.

I don't see Boeing or Airbus losing much sleep over
this. Lear and Bombadier, maybe. Of course,
they are free to enter this area in the market as well.
Hell, at 857K, I can almost afford one!

Mad Vlad

[Billy_bob_bob]

This is really, really sweet. These guys deserve MAJOR kudos for coming up with this. The Eclipse is one nice jet. Here's hoping they can get up to speed and start producing them as fast as the market can buy them.

Let's do a quick comparasion of the numbers, shall we? Most flights are around 1000 miles, on average. This plane holds what, seven or eight passengers? And it costs $900k. A commercial jet holds something like 150 passengers and costs what, $25 million a pop? Do the math. The Eclipse costs half as much to move the same number of people around. Of course, you have the cost of extra pilots, but you also have the convenience of being able to use small airports.

All in all I think these guys are onto something. I wish them great success in their business.

[Ditto]

Someone had better clear this with the FAA. Can their tube laden equipment keep the skies safe?

The short answer is yes --- there is a lot of room up there. The FAA has already gone "point-to-point" for most flights rather then the old stacking along the same air routes. The danger is conjestion that builds up with holding patterns at the big hub airports.

[July 4th]

I agree. Good for them - it's a sharp looking plane, and the price is right.

[Ditto]

Who needs maglev?

[OldFriend]

Re your #12.....I am sooo jealous! Lucky you!!