Eclipse 550

File:Eclipse 550 Mockup.jpg

File:N580WC Eclipse 550 LX Airflite (11588718635).jpg

The 550 was developed from the earlier Eclipse 500, enabled by Sikorsky Aircraft's investment in Eclipse Aerospace in 2010. It retains the 500's airframe and PW610F engines, but incorporates an improved avionics package, including satellite phones, autothrottles, synthetic vision and enhanced vision systems, as well as anti-skid brakes.

In May 2012 the company signed a deal with Sikorsky subsidiary PZL Mielec to have the Polish company build the Eclipse 550 fuselage, empennage and wings, while final aircraft assembly will be carried out by Eclipse Aerospace at their Albuquerque, New Mexico plant.{{Cite news|url =http://www.avweb.com/podcast/podcast/AudioPodcast_NBAA2011_MasonHolland_EclipseAviation_205548-1.html?kw=RelatedStory|title = Podcast: Orders Being Taken for New Eclipses|accessdate = 11 October 2011|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=October 2011| work = AvWeb}}{{cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/Eclipse_Sikorsky_Airframe_Deal_206693-1.html|title = Eclipse, Sikorsky Sign Airframe Deal|accessdate = 15 May 2012|last = Niles|first = Russ|date = 16 May 2012| work = AVweb}}

The initial price for the 550 in 2011 was US$2.695M and production was intended at that time to be 50–100 aircraft per year. The aircraft achieved an FAA production certificate in April 2012.{{cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/eclipse_production_certificate_sikorsky_jet_500_550_206595-1.html|title = Eclipse Earns Production Certificate|accessdate = 26 April 2012|last = Pew|first = Glenn|date = 25 April 2012| work = AVweb}}

In June 2013 the FAA approved the Eclipse 550 for a fatigue limit of 20,000 hours or 20,000 cycles with an unlimited calendar life.{{cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/EclipseJetOKdForLongerLife_208840-1.html|title = Eclipse Jet OK'd For Longer Life|accessdate = 13 June 2013|last = Grady|first = Mary|date = 12 June 2013| work = AVweb}} In August 2013 it was announced that the aircraft would incorporate autothrottles, new EFIS software, an anti-lock braking system and a high-resolution 3.25" x 4.3" standby display.{{cite web|last=Pew |first=Glenn |url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Eclipse-Adds-Upgrades-And-One-First-autothrottle220441-1.html |title=Eclipse Adds Upgrades And One 'First' - AVweb flash Article |date=16 August 2013 |publisher=Avweb.com |accessdate=2013-08-19}}

In February 2014 the FAA approved autothrottles and anti-skid brakes for the 550. The manufacturer claims the new braking system will stop the aircraft in {{convert|700|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} from normal landing speeds.{{cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAA-OKs-Eclipse-Upgrades221427-1.html|title = FAA OKs Eclipse Upgrades|accessdate = 14 February 2014|last = Grady|first = Mary|date = 11 February 2014| work = AVweb}}

The first customer delivery of a 550 was completed on 12 March 2014,{{cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Eclipse-Delivers-First-E550-Jet221586-1.html|title = Eclipse Delivers First E550 Jet|accessdate = 15 March 2014|last = Grady|first = Mary|date = 12 March 2014| work = AVweb}} and 10 had been delivered by August. However, sales had been slow, and employees were laid off.Finfrock, Rob. "[http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainalerts/2014-08-19/eclipse-blames-layoffs-sluggish-vlj-sales Eclipse Blames Layoffs on Sluggish VLJ Sales ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905191431/http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainalerts/2014-08-19/eclipse-blames-layoffs-sluggish-vlj-sales |date=September 5, 2014 }}" AINonline, 19 August 2014. Accessed: 4 September 2014.

One Aviation received EASA certification for its Eclipse 550 on 18 November 2015, clearing the way for sales of the light twinjet in the European Union and its use for air-taxi service there. The company has deposits from half a dozen European customers awaiting delivery pending certification. Deliveries will begin in January 2016, according to Cary Winter, One Aviation's executive vice president. The only changes required from U.S. production models are to “paint a couple of switches red and change the connector on the door switch,” he said.[http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-11-18/eclipse-550-wins-european-certification]" AINonline, November 18, 2015. Accessed: November 21, 2015

In March 2017 the company announced that 550 production would end in favour of production of the new "Canada" model of the aircraft. However, after One Aviation's Eclipse assets were purchased in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation process, 550 production resumed in 2023 with two deliveries made that year.

File:Eclipse 700.jpg

One Aviation designed an improved $3.495 million "Project Canada" variant that was planned to have its first flight in 2017. A new wing root section would lengthen its span by {{convert|{{#expr:41.7-37.9}}|ft|m|abbr=on}} to {{convert|41.7|ft|m|abbr=on}}, which would increase the wing area to {{convert|163|sqft|sqm|abbr=on}}, 13% more, and eliminate the tip tanks to reduce drag. {{convert|{{#expr:321-251}}|USgal|l|abbr=on}} more fuel could be carried to reach {{convert|321|USgal|L|abbr=on}}, and a higher MTOW would increase the useful load to {{convert|2,787|lbs|kg|abbr=on}}, {{convert|476|lbs|kg|abbr=on}} more. It was initially intended to use flat rated Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615 engines of {{convert|1,170|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} of thrust. NBAA IFR range would improve to {{convert|1,400|nmi|km|abbr=on}}, and it would cruise at {{convert|0.65|Mach|altitude_ft=43000|knots|0|abbr=on}} at a higher ceiling of {{convert|43000|ft|m|abbr=on}}. It would have similar takeoff, approach and landing speeds but would need 24% less runway at takeoff at sea level and ISA+25 and time to climb to FL400 at ISA+10 would be halved. An installed Garmin G3000 avionics suite included synthetic vision, GFC 700 autopilot, Garmin ESP protection system, LNAV and VNAV, and is ADS-B and RVSM compliant.{{cite news |url= http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2016-07-21/new-eclipse-canada-have-more-performance-range |title= New Eclipse 'Canada' To Have More Performance, Range |work= Aviation International News |author= Chad Trautvetter |date= July 21, 2016}}

In June 2017 it was announced the design would fit Williams FJ33 turbofans instead of the PW615s, derated to {{cvt|1200|lbf|kN}} from {{cvt|1900|lbf|kN}}.{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Eclipse-Highlights-Upgrades-for-Next-Jet-229096-1.html |title = Eclipse Highlights Upgrades For Next Jet |accessdate = 5 June 2017|last = Rapoport |first = Geoff|work = AVweb|date = 2 June 2017 }} This selection followed the possible end of the PW615 production as a backlog of already developed PW610s components for the Eclipse 500 was consumed, and the possibility of restarting the production line at a low rate and for a short time was uncertain.

The production of the 550 was projected to be interrupted as early as 2017, leaving a gap until "Project Canada" reached market, which was initially forecast for late 2018 or early 2019, but which was not met.{{cite news |url= http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-06-02/one-aviation-switch-williams-engine-canada |title= One Aviation To Switch To Williams Engine for 'Canada' |author= Kerry Lynch |date= June 2, 2017 |work= Aviation International News }}

It is intended that "Project Canada" would eventually be designated as the Eclipse EA700, but it required an additional investment of US$50 million to complete the development. It was intended to compete with similar light business jets like the HondaJet and the Embraer Phenom 100 and also with high-speed single turboprops such as the Daher TBM 930/910.{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/one-aviation-picks-williams-fj33-to-power-eclipse-ea-437947/ |title= One Aviation picks Williams FJ33 to power Eclipse EA700 |date= 6 June 2017 |work= Flight International |author= Kate Sarsfield}}

The EA700's fuselage was stretched by {{cvt|14|in|cm}} and its horizontal stabilizer had a greater span. The FJ33 engines provided better hot and high performance with a {{cvt|75|knots|km/h}} higher speed and a range of {{cvt|1,470|nmi|km}}. In 2017 it was forecast that the aircraft would be priced at $3.6 million and by July 2017 had received 30 orders, mostly from current owners, who would benefit from a trade-in program.

Certification was expected between January and July 2019, provided that One Aviation secured sufficient investment.{{cite news |url= http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-07-25/one-aviations-project-canada-now-eclipse-700 |title= One Aviation's "Project Canada" Is Now Eclipse 700 |author= Mark Huber |date= July 25, 2017 |work= Aviation International News}}

Three prototypes were planned: the first, presented in August 2017 and developed from an Eclipse 500, sported an aerodynamically conforming wing and the next, also based on an existing plane, would test the FJ33.{{cite news |url= http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-08-17/one-aviation-unveils-testbed-eclipse-700-wing |title= One Aviation Unveils Testbed with Eclipse 700 Wing |work= AIN |author= Rob Finfrock |date= August 17, 2017}} The EA700 wing was first flown on an existing fuselage in September 2017.{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Eclipse-EA700-First-Flight-229584-1.html|title = Eclipse EA700 First Flight|accessdate = 4 September 2017|last = Niles|first = Russ|work = AVweb|date = 3 September 2017}}

On October 10, 2018, One Aviation announced it had voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.{{cite news |url= https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-10-10/one-aviation-enters-chapter-11-restructuring |title= One Aviation Enters Chapter 11 Restructuring |date= October 10, 2018 |author= Rob Finfrock |work= AIN online}}{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/One-Aviation-Files-Chapter-11-Bankruptcy-231656-1.html|title = One Aviation Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy|access-date = 12 October 2018|last = Grady|first = Mary|work = AVweb|date = 10 October 2018}}{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/nbaa-2018/chinese-investor-rescues-eclipse-buy-company |title= Chinese Investor Rescues Eclipse, to Buy Company |date= Oct 15, 2018 |author1=Molly McMillin |author2=John Morris |work= Aviation Week Network}}

Citiking International, a Chinese-supported company, acquired the company; and the acquisition was cleared on March 9, 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/march/12/us-clears-bankrupt-one-aviation-for-foreign-acquisition|title=US CLEARS BANKRUPT ONE AVIATION FOR FOREIGN ACQUISITION|date=March 12, 2020|publisher=AOPA}} In February 2021, it was reported that the company's Chapter 11 reorganization case had been converted to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation process.

In 2013, Eclipse planned to submit the 550 for the USAF's very light jet requirement, even though that requirement specified FAR Part 25 certification and the 550 is certified to the less-stringent Part 23.[http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainalerts/2013-01-08/eclipse-responds-usaf-request-very-light-jets "Eclipse Responds To USAF Request for Very Light Jets."]

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Eclipse Aerospace{{cite web|title=Eclipse Jet Specifications|url=https://www.eclipse.aero/eclipse/specifications/|publisher=Eclipse Aerospace|accessdate=19 July 2016}}

|prime units?=imp

|genhide=

|crew=1 or 2{{cite web|url = http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/jets/first-new-build-eclipse-550-appear-nbaa-show|title=First New-Build Eclipse 550 to Appear at NBAA Show|work=Flying magazine|date = 26 September 2013}}

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|gross weight lb=6034

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|max takeoff weight lb=6000

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|fuel capacity=251 gal

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|avionics=

• Autothrottles
• Automatic Direction Finder (ADF)
• Avio dual Integrated Flight Management Systems
• Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)
• Enhanced vision system
• Radar Altimeter
• Stormscope
• Synthetic vision
• Terrain awareness and warning system
• Traffic collision avoidance system
• Weather radar

}}

{{aircontent

|see also=

|related=

|similar aircraft=

• Adam A700
• Cessna Citation Mustang
• Cirrus Vision SF50
• Diamond D-Jet
• Embraer Phenom 100
• Honda HA-420 HondaJet
• Piper PA-47 PiperJet
• Stratos 714

|lists=

• List of very light jets

}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category|Eclipse 550}}

• {{Official website|https://eclipse.aero/}}

{{Eclipse Aviation}}

Category:2010s United States business aircraft

550

Category:Very light jets

Category:Twinjets

Category:T-tail aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 2013

Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear