Eclipse Aviation rolls out new jet
Eclipse Aviation rolled out its first Eclipse 500 jet in Albuquerque on July 13 to the cheers and applause of more than 1,600 customers, investors, suppliers, employees, and invited guests. "The world is full of people who said this airplane couldn't be built — and the people here at Eclipse will fly it later this summer," said Red Polling, chairman of the Eclipse board.
Vern Raburn, Eclipse president and CEO, said the rollout represented a transition from the airplane's design phase to a building phase. "We have a vision, and that's to change how this nation — and eventually the world — travels." The company's goal is to revolutionize air travel by producing modern, affordable jet aircraft that employ the latest electronics, manufacturing, and propulsion technology.
At press time, Eclipse anticipated its first flight in early August. "The likelihood of that occurring is pretty high," Raburn said.
Innovation is a hallmark of the Eclipse design. In addition to the efficient, lightweight Williams EJ22 engines, the company will be the first to apply friction stir welding technology to GA manufacturing — it received FAA approval in May.
The Eclipse 500's Avio intelligent flight system, developed in conjunction with Avidyne Corporation, BAE Systems, and General Dynamics, uses digital electronics technology with redundant central computers to monitor and control the aircraft's systems. Extensive use of data buses will allow large volumes of data to be shared among Avio's components. As a result, the system will be able to display one integrated picture of what the aircraft is doing, instead of many disparate pieces of information that must be assimilated and correlated by the pilot.
Avio's system management will provide electronic control of Eclipse's major systems, including full-authority digital engine controls (FADEC), flight management system, communications, autopilot, autothrottles, electrically actuated flaps, trim, landing gear, and environmental systems. (Flight controls and brakes are conventional.)
The multiply redundant Avio system uses electronic circuit breakers almost exclusively — at last count there were only three conventional circuit breakers aboard the airplane — to provide tighter tolerances than traditional mechanical circuit breakers provide. "Smart actuators" provide feedback to the system, which uses proximity switches instead of traditional, failure-prone microswitches.
Other innovations include the use of light-emitting-diode (LED) technology exclusively to light the Eclipse's cockpit and interior. LED lights have a 10,000-hour mean time between failures, draw little current, "and they don't get hot," Raburn explained. The cabin lighting system is expected to draw no more than 3.5 amps.
Electrically actuated wing flaps employ bronze rollers on hard aluminum tracks, so the rollers wear instead of the more expensive flap tracks. The brakes are the only hydraulic system aboard the aircraft.
The computer-controlled precision of friction stir welding, combined with machined parts such as pressure bulkheads, allowed the first Eclipse fuselage to come together very quickly, Raburn noted. For example, joining the forward and aft fuselage — which happened on June 18 — took only 30 minutes, he said.
Eclipse announced in late July that it will partner with Global Aerospace to provide aircraft hull and liability insurance to owners of Eclipse 500 jets. Global expects insurance premiums to be similar to those for existing aircraft, based upon anticipated innovative training and customer support programs that will be part of Eclipse's product offering.
To date Eclipse has raised $238 million in private equity funding, which the company believes makes it is the most highly funded aviation startup in history. But one proposal consistent with Raburn's dream of ushering in a new level of air transportation is now off. Nimbus Group Inc. wanted to buy 1,000 jets for an air taxi business but was unable to come up with the needed $5.86 million deposit for the first 70 aircraft by a June 30 contract deadline.
Eclipse said that the jet is on track for certification in December 2003, with first customer deliveries scheduled for January 2004. — Michael P. Collins
ePilot Headlines
Recent news from AOPA's weekly e-mail newsletter.
Robinson announces new helicopter
Robinson Helicopter Company announced that it is accepting orders for its new R44 Raven II. The helicopter has more power, a higher maximum gross weight, a 28-volt electrical system, and better high-altitude performance. Robinson expects to receive the FAA type certificate in late August. The base price is $335,000.
Fossett reaches goal
American adventurer Steve Fossett drifted into aviation history in July, becoming the first person to fly a balloon solo around the world. Flying through the darkness over the ocean south of Australia in his silvery Spirit of Freedom balloon, the Chicago investment millionaire covered more than 19,250 miles on the trip, finally succeeding in his sixth attempt at the record.
Company certifies synthetic vision system
Universal Avionics Systems Corporation has received FAA approval for its Vision-1 Synthetic Vision System. Company officials said that it's the first terrain-based synthetic vision system to receive certification.
Mooney drops prices 20 percent
In an unprecedented move in the piston airplane world, Mooney Airplane Company slashed airplane prices across its line by 20 percent. This means an average price reduction of $90,000 for each of three models.
Add a chute to your Skyhawk
Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) has received FAA approval for its emergency rocket-launched parachute system in Cessna 172s. The parachute is mounted in the right side of the Skyhawk's baggage area and blasts out the right half of the rear window when launched. The BRS-172 system sells for $15,995, not including installation.
Beware of Turbo-Shark
Missouri heart surgeon Raymond Vetsch has doctored up something special. He and a team of volunteers surgically attached a Walter M601-T turboprop engine and an Avia five-blade prop to a Sukhoi 26MX aerobatic airplane. Vetsch, who started flying gliders at the age of 15 in the Swiss Alps, is currently flying the aircraft dubbed Turbo-Shark on the airshow circuit.
To sign up for the free AOPA ePilot or to view the archive, see AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/epilot/).
Gyroplane takes aim at homeland security
Gyrocraft, or autogyros, have their origins in the early 1920s, when Juan de la Cierva deduced that autorotating blades could provide lift without the risk of stalling at low speeds inherent in fixed-wing designs.
His work led to a partnership with Harold F. Pitcairn who developed the famous Pitcairn Autogiro (see " Son of a Pioneer," April 2001 Pilot. Though gyroplanes predate the first viable helicopters — and provided the testbed for the articulating blades that make hovering flight possible — helicopters took center stage in 1936 and continue to be the most popular rotorcraft, in spite of their typically high operating costs and notorious maintenance records. Enter Groen Brothers Aviation and the Hawk 4.
Sixteen years and $42 million in development, the Hawk 4 provides an alternative to turbine helicopters. With the low operating costs and maintenance requirements of an airplane, and very short-field takeoff and landing characteristics approaching those of a helicopter, the Hawk 4 gyroplane offers a compelling option for public agencies interested in surveillance as well as other applications. In July, at a homeland security exposition in Washington, D.C., Groen Brothers Aviation, manufacturers of the Hawk 4, demonstrated its utility and flight characteristics to an enthusiastic spectrum of legislators and federal, state, and local agencies for public-use implementation. The Hawk 4 is a turbine-powered gyroplane that can take off in as little as 25 feet and maneuver with precision around a target at speeds as low as 40 knots. It costs only $159 an hour to operate. The Hawk is priced at $749,000; certification plans are currently on hold with the company's focus on public-use approval. — Julie K. Boatman
Squawk Sheet
The FAA on June 18 issued Airworthiness Directive 2002-12-07, which supersedes a previous emergency AD requiring inspection and/or replacement of oil filter converter plate gaskets on about 3,000 aircraft with Textron Lycoming engines. This new AD formally introduces terminating actions to the condition addressed in the original emergency AD 2000-18-53 issued on September 5, 2000. "AOPA is pleased that the FAA has finally issued this new AD, as it provides much-needed closure for those affected operators," said Lance Nuckolls, AOPA director of regulatory and certification policy.
Adam A500 makes first flight
Adam A500 serial No. 1, a piston twin-engine composite aircraft built by Adam Aircraft Industries of Englewood, Colorado, started flight-testing in July at Centennial Airport, south of Denver. But in a minor incident, the nose gear folded back on landing, leaving scratches on the nose. The damage was repaired and the aircraft is back flying. Two 350-hp turbocharged Continental 550 engines — one mounted in the front and one on the rear to provide centerline thrust — power the six-place airplane. The company says the aircraft will have a maximum speed of 250 knots. Two additional test aircraft now under construction will be completed this year, and certification testing will take place during the first half of 2003. The company claims a 1,150-nm range for the aircraft, which features sidestick controls. The base price of the aircraft is $895,000.
Speaker, flight instructor dies
Popular speaker, pilot examiner, and flight instructor, Charles P. "Chas" Harral, died June 27 in San Antonio, Texas. He was 62. Harral safely logged more than 13,000 hours of flight time, gave 9,000 hours of flight instruction, and administered more than 5,000 flight tests for pilot certificates and ratings. He owned and operated a P-51 Mustang and was type rated in the P-38 Lightning. Harral taught hundreds of aviation safety courses across the United States including many Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics (FIRC) for the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. A memorial Web site has been launched in his honor. See ( www.aviationspeakers.com/speakers/c-harral.htm).
The Ninety-Nines launches online career resource
The Ninety-Nines Inc. has launched a new online career networking resource for women pilots. Called The Pro 99s Network, the Web page features career advice from pilot recruitment experts, job listings for the airlines and general aviation, and numerous links to aviation placement services, scholarships, organizations, and colleges. There is also access to a communications network for pilots to discuss everything from coping with furloughs to balancing work and family. For more information, see the Web site ( www.ninety-nines.org/pro99s/).
OMF Symphony 160 receives IFR certification
The OMF Symphony 160, a two-seat single-engine airplane currently in production as a VFR aircraft, won its IFR certification from the FAA on June 28. The VFR model has proved popular as a training aircraft. The Symphony had received LBA (German) IFR certification in May. Changes to the model include a split electrical bus, lightning protection, an alternate static source, and antenna and wiring changes. Garmin avionics have been added to the panel. The IFR-equipped Symphony retails for $140,000, with the VFR version priced at $120,000. For more, see the Web site ( www.omf-aircraft.com).
Members in the news
Chuck Huber, AOPA 709839, was elected president of the United States Pilots Association at the group's quarterly meeting in May. He took office July 1. Huber is a past president of the Texas Pilots Association.
Rod Machado, AOPA 1076138, a lecturer, author, and AOPA Pilot columnist, has been inducted as an honoree into the International Forest of Friendship in Atchison, Kansas. The forest was created as a unique living memorial to the history of aviation in Amelia Earhart's birthplace. The Forest was established by the City of Atchison and is governed by a committee that includes members of The Ninety-Nines Trees representing all 50 states and 41 countries add life to the memorial. A 5-foot-wide sidewalk called Memory Lane winds through the Forest and is embedded with more than 650 engraved granite plaques, honoring those who have or are still contributing to aviation. New honorees are inducted each June.
Greg Elmore, AOPA 1366854, and Jeff Lappin, AOPA 2662341, completed their quest to fly to every public-use airport in Colorado. The team, both employees of Cessna Aircraft Company, figured they flew 4,700 nautical miles to reach all 80 airports. Using two Cessna 182s from the Cessna Employees' Flying Club, the adventure took a little more than a year to complete.
Bob Norris, AOPA 94159, has published Solo, To Fly — To Climb. The book is an adventurous memoir that is told through travelogues. " Solo provides a mixture of how flying and [mountain] climbing can infect one's life by bringing rapture and awe through uncommon events," said the author. The book sells for $18.69 paperback, $28.79 hardcover, and $8 e-book. It is available directly through Xlibris.com ( www.xlibris.com/bookstore/) and via online and local booksellers.
OSHKOSH NOTEBOOK
From Jennies to Rocketships at Oshkosh
EAA AirVenture 2002 was punctuated by new technology designed to revolutionize the way we travel from the garage to outer space.
First up is the CarterCopter gyroplane that on July 26 made its public flight debut. The composite aircraft takes off like a rotorcraft and flies like a fixed-wing aircraft. The unique design, dreamed up by Jay Carter, has the ability to slow its rotor while transferring the weight to small wings, yet it remains stable. Powered by a stock Corvette engine, the CarterCopter has reached a maximum speed of 150 kt and an altitude of 10,000 feet. CarterCopter LLC plans to license the technology to a production company.
With a pop and a bang, Dick Rutan blasted off in the EZ-Rocket, a rocket-powered Long-EZ homebuilt, during its first public demonstration flights at Oshkosh. After climbing somewhat steeply, Rutan throttled back and made a pass above the runway. With another pop, he relit the engines and did a go-around. After the liquid fuel was gone, Rutan did a dead-stick landing. Developed by XCOR Aerospace, the EZ-Rocket is a test vehicle that is designed to pave the way for civilian access to space.
Now for your garage. Ed Sweeny of Black Forest, Colorado, is turning a Lotus Elise sports car into a flying machine. The Lotus already sports removable fuselage attach joints and a pitot tube that protrudes from the front grill. Inside, there are aircraft instruments alongside those needed for normal car operation. No flight controls have been installed yet. The car backs into a unit that includes the tail and wings, and is estimated to cruise at 130 kt.
Other Oshkosh announcements that made a splash include:
Lycoming Engines has developed its most powerful normally aspirated four-cylinder engine. Dubbed the IO-390-X, the 390 cubic-inch displacement engine features fuel injection and develops 210 hp. The engine will initially be offered to the homebuilt market. Following a market assessment, the company anticipates that it will certify the model for production aircraft by 2004. An aerobatic version, the AEIO-390-X, will also be offered.
Cirrus Design Corporation announced that it will offer ice protection on the SR22. The airplane will use a TKS-based system designed by Aerospace Systems and Technologies (AS&T) of Great Britain. The system holds one hour of glycol and weighs about 50 pounds when full, less than 20 pounds empty, according to Cirrus. The option is $19,700 and will be available on 2003-model aircraft.
EADS Socata announced a new, higher gross weight variant of the TBM 700. The TBM 700C2, will have a 7,394-pound maximum gross takeoff weight and have a 910-pound full-fuel payload. Previous versions of the TBM 700 have 6,579-pound maximum gross takeoff weights (see " EADS Socata: Super-Size It," page 68). Price of the C2 is set at $3.3 million. Certification is expected by fall 2002, and deliveries will begin at the end of the year.
Avidyne Corporation announced a primary flight display (PFD) for production aircraft. It's part of the FlightMax Entegra avionics suite, which includes the previously released FlightMax EX5000, a multifunction display, and a similarly sized PFD. The PFD comes complete with an electronic attitude direction indicator (EADI) and horizontal situation indicator (HSI), along with airspeed and altitude tapes and trend information. The brilliant 10.4-inch diagonal screen can be installed in either a landscape or portrait presentation. The Entegra will be an option in the Cirrus SR22. It is also being considered as a possible option by manufacturers of other aircraft, including Diamond and Lancair. List price will be under $60,000, according to Avidyne. The company also announced its narrowcast datalink service that will deliver weather — including Nexrad and METARs automatically sent according to the user's flight plan — to its FlightMax line of multifunction displays.
Related Articles
