1. Design and development
     Eclipse 700  

2. Operational history

3. Specifications (550)

4. See also

5. References

6. External links

The Eclipse 550 is a very light jet initially built by Eclipse Aerospace and later One Aviation of Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. The aircraft is a development version of the Eclipse 500, which was produced by predecessor Eclipse Aviation. Like the 500, the 550 is a low-wing, six seat, twin engine jet-powered aircraft.^[3] The Eclipse 550 is certified for single-pilot operation.

The aircraft was announced at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas, Nevada in October 2011. The first example was rolled out in March 2013 and the first customer delivery was on 22 October 2013.^[3][4][5][6]

In March 2017 the company announced that 550 production would end after four more aircraft were completed, to concentrate production on the new Eclipse 700 model of the aircraft.^[7]

Design and development

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.^[3][4]

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.^[3][8][9]

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.^[3] The aircraft achieved an FAA production certificate in April 2012.^[10]

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.^[11] 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.^[12]

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.^[13]

The first customer delivery of a 550 was completed on 12 March 2014,^[14] and 10 had been delivered by August. However, sales had been slow, and employees were laid off.^[15]

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.^[16]

In March 2017 the company announced that 550 production would end in favour of production of the new "Canada" model of the aircraft.^[7]

Eclipse 700

One Aviation is designing an improved $3.495 million "Project Canada" variant to fly in 2017.

A new wing root section will lengthen its span by {{convert|{{#expr:41.7-37.9}}|ft|m|abbr=on}} to {{convert|41.7|ft|m|abbr=on}}, which will 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 can be carried to reach {{convert|321|USgal|l|abbr=on}}, and a higher MTOW will 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 will improve to {{convert|1,400|nmi|km|abbr=on}}, and it will cruise at {{convert|0.65|Mach|43000|knots|0|abbr=on}} at a higher ceiling of {{convert|43000|ft|m|abbr=on}}. It will have similar takeoff, approach and landing speeds but will need 24% less runway at takeoff at sea level and ISA+25 and time to climb to FL400 at ISA+10 will be halved. Garmin G3000 avionics suite includes synthetic vision, GFC 700 autopilot, Garmin ESP protection system, LNAV and VNAV, and is ADS-B and RVSM compliant.^[17]

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}}.^[18]

This selection follows the possible end of the PW615 production as a backlog of already developed PW610s components for the Eclipse 500 is consumed, and restarting the production line at a low rate and for a short time is uncertain.

Specifications (550)

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|crew=1 or 2^[29]
|capacity=4-5 passengers
|length m=
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|height ft=11
|height in=
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|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=3634
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=6034
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=6000
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=251 gal
|more general=

|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F
|eng1 type=Turbine
|eng1 kn=
|eng1 lbf=900
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=

|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=375
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=430
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=1125
|range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=41000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=3456
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|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

See also

• Cessna Citation Mustang
• Cirrus Vision SF50

References

External links

• {{Official website|http://www.oneaviation.aero/eclipse/550.php}}

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