Notes Preliminary Info Is "Very Conservative"

This weekend, Eclipse Aviation CEO Vern Raburn (right) shared a draft version of the updated Eclipse 500 Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) to customers, reflecting the effects of the company's performance modification program now under development, as well as the upcoming Avio NG avionics upgrade. Raburn notes all figures are preliminary, and subject to change... but the results the company has seen so far appear encouraging.

Below are comments from Raburn's message to customers, and accompanying graphs.

As I have promised, I said that Eclipse would communicate more frequently. As part of this increased communication effort, I told you that we would provide a DRAFT version of the AFM Section 5 that represents the final Eclipse 500 aircraft configuration by the end of the month. Today, I am providing exactly that. This letter will attempt to explain the DRAFT version of the AFM and Section 5 performance that you now have access to.

First, I want to make sure that the definition of final Eclipse 500 aircraft configuration is understood to mean the performance improvement package (extended tip tanks and aerodynamic modifications) combined with the Avio NG displays and associated avionics. These data will not apply to aircraft without the performance improvement package and/or Avio NG installed. You will see from these data that the Eclipse 500 aircraft meets its performance guarantees and performs like we have always told you it would.

The data that you are receiving today are derived from actual flight testing activity in a final configuration aircraft assuming an Avio NG weight. However, please understand that all of the data I am distributing to you today are preliminary and subject to change.

Performance Snapshot

In all cases, we have obtained actual flight test data that meets, or exceeds, the guaranteed performance of the Eclipse 500 jet. A snapshot of these data is shown here:

All of the performance data shown today are very conservative, and have yet to be optimized. Specifically, the data on field performance and initial rates of climb are highly preliminary and have yet to be optimized, as they have not yet been fully tested. You will see in the DRAFT AFM that takeoff and landing distances have increased, which is mostly due to the increase takeoff and landing weights on the aircraft. You must understand that we have not yet fully tested these performance capabilities of the final configuration airplane, and this is where we are at today. As such, we are providing you with conservative, calculated data for field performance and rate of climb. We are aggressively working to improve these areas, and have set a target expectation for each.

The chart below shows the currently published performance, the performance listed in the Draft AFM, and our targets.

Before the final release of the AFM, we will have further improved many areas of the performance envelope through continued flight demonstration...

Overall, I am very pleased with the progress we are currently making. This progress is evident in the production line, the results from flight testing, and the enthusiasm of Eclipse employees. It is because of you, our customers, that we continue to press on to deliver the best jet that General Aviation has ever dreamed of, much less delivered...

FMI: www.eclipseaviation.com