Free Republic

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 07.27.06 1315 EDT: It's official! The very first VLJ to receive FAA certification is the Eclipse 500... as was announced moments ago at AirVenture 2006

The idea that small is beautiful seems to have been lost on the aviation industry. But while most attention is lavished on the Airbus A380, the giant pterosaur of the skies, many think that the new, diminutive Eclipse 500, a mere bumblebee by comparison, is the aeroplane with the real potential to transform air travel. The Eclipse 500 is the first of a new kind of small aircraft called the very light jet (VLJ). It seats five passengers and a pilot, weighs 3,536lb (1,603kg) when empty and is so petite that seven of them could fit along the wings of...

A revolutionary and time-consuming project, one that literally reshapes the paradigm for light jet transportation, is proving to be just a tad more time-consuming (like most revolutions are) than its adherents had hoped... Eclipse Aviation has confirmed for ANN that it expects to achieve FAA certification of the Eclipse 500 jet in the next few weeks, but not (as hoped) within the next few days. While the company was anticipating FAA certification in late June, the thorny issue of continued supplier delays have pushed the schedule back. "We are on the verge of achieving FAA certification, and are thrilled...

<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Imagine someday calling a taxicab in the shape of a tiny jet that seats six and can pick you up at your local municipal airport and deliver you to where you want to go for about the cost of an airline coach seat.</p>