Eclipse CEO Logs Time in Eclipse N503EA

We wish we could tell you exactly how Eclipse CEO Vern Raburn described his first flight in the airplane he has fought so hard to bring to market, the Eclipse 500. Suffice it to say that he thought it was (in part) "way cool..." but suffice it also to say that we deleted an adjective or two that might NOT be fit for family consumption... Still, there was no mistaking the enthusiasm he brought back from a quick jaunt to FL300.

As N503EA continues to log time at an ever-accelerating rate, and the number two test bird, N502EA, finishes high-speed taxi tests in preparation for a first flight that may be happening as you read this, Raburn finally decided to see, for himself, what all the fuss was about.

So Monday, he saddled the littlest twinjet up and headed for the heavens, despite the fact that was a lousy day for the CEO to get his first taste of the bird... as the winds were blowing 26 knots and gusting to 32.

The hour plus flight managed to get some of the flight test cards filled out, but most of all it told Raburn that his dream was on the right track and that his little jet had a "heavy jet feel" that should help transitioning pilots enjoy their birds all the more. Raburn's flight allowed him to get a solid feel for the aircraft stability and control profile (good speed stability, and a pretty short list of tweaks that will eventually be resolved as the flight test program continues), though Raburn, ever the perfectionist, couldn't help but nit-pick his plane a bit...

Vern was particularly enthused about the aircraft's landing characteristics and got what he wanted... "it's a really easy airplane to land...," a good thing to know with 30+ knot gusts. Of course, upon disembarking from the Pratt & Whitney powered Pocket Rocket, Eclipse staffers celebrated the feat by dousing the boss with a celebratory "Ramp Wash..." giving Raburn's critics what may be their very last chance to accuse him of being all wet (and let's face it, any chance to hose down the boss can NOT be passed up, and the high-spirited Eclipse-ABQ gang didn't let the opportunity pass).

There's more, but we have an interview scheduled shortly that will allow us to tell you a more complete story... and in the meantime, N503EA may be raising a few more eyebrows in the next few days -- outside of Albuquerque. There is, after all, a fly-in going on this week and attendees may want to keep an eye out Friday morning or so... but that's just a suggestion. Hint, hint... 

And of course, with N502EA getting ready to join the flight test program in a matter of hours (if it hasn't already...) it's obviously going to be a busy week for the ever-accelerating Eclipse program. Stay tuned to ANN for ALL the inside skinny...

FMI: www.eclipseaviation.com