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11th June 2007, Oxford Airport – The first viewings of the Eclipse very light jet (VLJ) in the UK were hosted at Oxford Airport in early June where several established and prospective owners saw the aircraft, many for the first time.
This personal jet, using ground-breaking technology, will see first deliveries into the UK later this summer, a number of which are destined to reside at Oxford Airport. A great deal of interest was shown in the aircraft which uses the latest manufacturing processes to maximise production rates and minimise costs of construction. Until now, the lowest cost light jet had been the smallest of the Cessna Citation family, the CJ1, at around US$4.6m (£2.33m). However, this new entrant into the higher end of the general aviation marketplace and arguably the starting rung of the business aviation sector, costs a mere US$1.52m (£768,000), the sort of price one would pay for a four bed house in north Oxford and fraction more than a new Beech Baron twin piston.
On the demonstrations, one remarkable fact was the quietness of the aircraft. With an effective perceived noise level on take-off of just 54.9 dBA, it is officially the world’s quietest jet. The Eclipse is quieter than virtually all multi engine turboprop and piston aircraft and noticeably quieter than Oxford’s training school Piper Senecas. Statistically, a single piston-engined aircraft like the PA-24 Comanche, is twice as noisy as the Eclipse 500.
Vern Raburn, President and CEO of Eclipse Aviation commented ‘Our dedication to set a new low noise standard through innovative design is paying off, as the Eclipse 500 far exceeds every noise requirement ever established for jet aircraft. This is a very, very community friendly airplane.”
With the best take-off performance of any light jet today, the jet also has a remarkably low stall speed, allowing it to comfortably fit in with conventional piston engined GA traffic.
The goal of Eclipse is to bring the word "personal" into aviation, making it possible for commercial air passengers to move directly between cities on a quick, affordable and convenient basis. It will also allow pilot owners to enter the world of jet-powered aviation for the first time with a very safe, twin engined aircraft. With sales numbers already approaching the 3,000 mark, this aircraft is certainly set to change they way some business executives travel hereon.
For further information and higher resolution photos, contact:
James Dillon-Godfray
Head of Marketing & Development – Oxford Airport
Tel: +44(0)1865 290 710 / info@oxfordairport.co.uk
Perry L. Denker
Vice President – Business Development – Eclipse Aviation
Tel: +001 505 724 1004 / perry.denker@eclipseaviation.com
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