Individuals involved in the aviation business are a terrific combination of romantic adventurer and practical businessperson. Nowhere is that more true than at Eclipse Aviation, creators of the newest Very Light Jet: the Eclipse 500.
A revolutionary new design, the Eclipse is a lightweight, five-seat business jet that is targeted to sell for around $1.5 million. That may sound like a lot of money, until you consider that even low-end Learjets sell for $10 million or more.
The Eclipse is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW610F turbofan engines mounted in tail-end nacelles. Yes, the same Pratt & Whitney that makes lawnmower engines, but a different division. Needless to say, these babies deliver a little bit more thrust than your average grass cutting machine. Cruising speed is 375 knots (403 mph/672 kph) with a range of 1,280 nautical miles (1472 mi/2,455 km).
The airframe required the development of radically new manufacturing techniques and Eclipse engineers stepped up to the plate. Replacing riveting with a system of welding for the skin and underlying structure, the design calls for a composite body made from an aluminum skin laid in a mold. The structure is then built on top, just the reverse of how one typically thinks of manufacturing processes where the skin goes on last.
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