Debra Ryono
04/01/2004
Eclipse Aviation, gearing up to deliver its Eclipse 500 jet by March 2006, has signed long-term contracts for suppliers of its Avio system, which will monitor and control all aspects of the aircraft from engine controls to fuel system management to cabin reading lights. The company is billing its highly anticipated twin turbofan, which will seat up to six, as the plane that will make jet ownership a viable option for those of us who would like to move up from fractional ownership or commercial air travel, because the price, at $950,000, will be lower than many used turboprops.
Suppliers are Autronics, Crossbow Technology, FreeFlight Systems, Harco Laboratories, Hispano-Suize and Meggitt Avionics. Avidyne and General Dynamics already are working with Eclipse.