Comments on: Eclipse Jet arrives at Hanscom (review of interior comfort)

By: Gil Wymond

Gil Wymond — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:55:31 +0000

I Flew an Eclipse from Modesto, California to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with one fuel stop (Salina, Kansas). The first leg took 3 hours at FL 390. Fuel consumed was 186 gallons! TAS was very close to the advertised 370 knots. Cabin noise level was very low (active noise cancellation not needed) and the seats were plenty comfortable. Trip included 3 adults and one 55 pound dog plus baggage. If Eclipse can iron out the remaining issues (FIKI and avionics), they will have a winner. However, factory support remains a major concern for operators/owners of this aircraft. Given the cost of Jet A (present and projected), you have to like the effeciency of this airplane.

By: Johnny Mulder

Johnny Mulder — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:47:24 +0000

Has anyone heard any feedback on customer service? Making this kind of investment seems like service would be a primary factor.

By: philg

philg — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 05:13:30 +0000

John: The brochure range depends on using less power and, more importantly, getting an optimum clearance to the most efficient altitude (higher than 27,000′ no doubt). Up and down the crowded east coast, it is unlikely that a slow(ish) plane such as the Eclipse would get cleared too much higher so the 700 n.m. range might turn out to be close to the real-world number.

Stephen: Battery-powered headsets are great for folks who rent 30-year-old planes from flight schools. Aircraft owners, even of cheap planes such as the Cirrus, generally use ship-powered headsets.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 02:56:41 +0000

“As far as I could tell, there are no provisions for noise-canceling headsets.”

There are plenty of battery operated noise cancelling headsets on the market. Is it just that there are certain brands that are more cool looking for the pilot crowd?

Audio Technica has cheap ear canal noise canceling earphones that combine noise cancelation with what are in effect ear plugs, using a single AAA battery in a pod on the cable..

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 02:51:55 +0000

“The pilots reported achieving a 700 n.m. range at high-speed cruise.”

“The specs on their website call it a 1100nm range jet.”

Presumably it can go further than 700 n.m.: the pilots didn’t fly it until it ran out of fuel and then ditch it, parachuting to the ground.

By: John

John — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:37:47 +0000

This is the Eclipse 500, right?
The specs on their website call it a 1100nm range jet, is there something I don’t know about? Hmmm, I suppose the jet crowd is more concerned about high speed cruise rather the economy cruise. (not too important for me, I got one of their cute hats at Oshkosh, but I doubt I will ever be inside their jet again)

By: philg

philg — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 21:00:30 +0000

Colin: I’m pretty sure that it will be certified for known ice soon enough. Agreed that it will probably take at least one year for the avionics software bugs to be shaken out.

By: Marshall Hughes

Marshall Hughes — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 20:32:41 +0000

wow. Would love to see this. Are there pics to follow?

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:02:03 +0000

So, you get to stop at least 3 or 4 times to strech your legs on a cross-country?

By: Colin Summers

Colin Summers — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:57:33 +0000

When you write “very capable” are you keeping in mind that it isn’t certified for flight into known icing?

I’m writing from ABQ home of, you guessed it, Eclipse aviation. I walked into the hanger next to the hanger where my DA40 is getting a new magneto. There were six Eclipse 500’s there. A tech was trying to get the aviation database to update on a customers plane. It had taken three hours and he was going to give up for the night.

The brochure says certified into known ice. The tech said not yet, they still have to find some natural icing for the required FAA tests. I can’t remember the other certifications they are missing. Maybe single-pilot IFR?