Introduction
The Eclipse 500 was one of the first very light jets: small, twin-engine business jets meant to bring jet travel to owners who had never flown one. Eclipse marketed it to owners of high-end piston and turboprop aircraft, and focused on low acquisition and service costs.
The design traces back to the Williams V-Jet II, a demonstrator built by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites in 1997. The Eclipse 500 prototype first flew on August 26, 2002. The FAA granted full type certification on September 30, 2006, and the first aircraft was delivered at the start of 2007.
Eclipse 500 Jet: Design and Features
Exterior Design
The Eclipse 500 is 33.5 ft long, with a wingspan of 37.9 ft and a height of 11.0 ft. Eclipse borrowed techniques from the automotive industry to build the airframe, rather than riveting skins onto a traditional jig-mounted structure.
Interior Design
The cabin is small, as you would expect in a very light jet. The aircraft has six seats in total, including the flight deck, and a useful load of 2,400 lb. On a trip with a pilot on board, that leaves room for a small group and light luggage. Plan for seated travel rather than standing room.
Avionics and Controls
The Eclipse 500 has a glass cockpit with an integrated avionics package. Early aircraft were delivered with the original Avio system. Later aircraft received the redesigned Avio NG system, and European certification required the Avio NG 1.5 package along with extra equipment.
Fast airport transfers using very light jets and BLADE helicopter flights
A very light jet like the Eclipse 500 suits regional point-to-point trips between smaller airports. It does not solve the last few miles into a dense city. In New York, BLADE offers scheduled by-the-seat helicopter flights between Manhattan and JFK, and between Manhattan and Newark. Flights take about 5 minutes, from $195 per seat.
Performance and Specifications
Engine and Speed
Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F turbofans power the aircraft, each producing about 900 lb of thrust. Maximum cruise speed is about 370 knots (426 mph).
Range and Altitude
The Eclipse 500's range is 1,125 nautical miles, measured with four occupants and NBAA reserves with a 100 nm alternate. It was certified with a service ceiling of 41,000 ft.
In March 2011 the FAA restricted the fleet to 30,000 ft while engine surge reports were investigated. Pratt & Whitney Canada later introduced a new combustion liner design to address the problem. If you are flying on a specific aircraft, ask the operator about its current limits.
Eclipse 500 vs helicopter transfers for short-distance travel
For a trip of a few hundred miles between regional airports, a light jet is the faster tool. For a trip that starts or ends in a city center, total door-to-door time often depends more on the ground transfer than on the flight. In New York, you can pair a jet flight with a helicopter transfer to or from Manhattan for the final leg.
Safety Features
The Eclipse 500 type certificate allows a single pilot to fly it under instrument flight rules. It is also certified to fly with two pilots. The aircraft received certification for flight into known icing conditions on June 25, 2008.
The initial airframe life was 10,000 hours, 10,000 cycles or 10 years. In June 2013, after additional fatigue testing, the FAA raised the limit to 20,000 hours or 20,000 cycles with no calendar limit.
Cost Benefits
Purchase and Operating Costs
Low cost was the core idea behind the Eclipse 500. Its original price was $775,000. By 2006 it had risen to $1.445 million. After production ended, Eclipse Aerospace offered refurbished aircraft under the Total Eclipse brand from 2010. In 2015 it replaced that program with the Eclipse Special Edition, which upgraded an Eclipse 500 to near Eclipse 550 standard for $2.2 million, including the base airframe.
Today the Eclipse 500 is only available on the pre-owned market. Prices depend on each aircraft's hours, avionics and upgrade history.
Market for Very Light Jets
Eclipse and other very light jet makers hoped their aircraft would create a new air taxi market, since jets this small could use more than 10,000 airports in the United States. The primary user of the Eclipse 500 was the air taxi operator DayJet, which shut down in 2008.
Future of Eclipse 500 Jet and Eclipse Aerospace
The company history is as notable as the aircraft:
- October 2008: production halted for lack of funding, after 260 aircraft had been delivered
- November 25, 2008: Eclipse Aviation entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy, then Chapter 7 liquidation in February 2009
- August 2009: Eclipse Aerospace bought the Eclipse Aviation assets
- October 2011: Eclipse Aerospace announced the updated Eclipse 550
- April 2015: Eclipse Aerospace merged with Kestrel Aircraft to form One Aviation
- February 2021: One Aviation entered Chapter 7 liquidation
AML Global Eclipse now supports all Eclipse aircraft under the name Eclipse Aerospace, Inc.
Chartering a light jet
If you want a small jet for a regional trip, BLADE arranges private charters of jets through licensed operators. All BLADE flights in the United States are operated by FAA-licensed carriers. Tell BLADE your route, date and group size, and compare the aircraft available for your trip.
FAQs about What Is An Eclipse 500 Jet?
What is an Eclipse 500 jet?
It is a twin-engine very light jet, model EA500, first built by Eclipse Aviation in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
What is the maximum range of an Eclipse 500 jet?
The range is 1,125 nautical miles with four occupants and NBAA reserves.
How much does an Eclipse 500 jet cost?
The Eclipse 500 is no longer built, so it is sold pre-owned. When new, its price rose from an original $775,000 to $1.445 million by 2006.
What are some of the features of an Eclipse 500 jet?
Two PW610F turbofans, a glass cockpit with integrated Avio avionics, single-pilot certification and certification for flight into known icing.
What is the seating capacity of an Eclipse 500 jet?
Six seats in total, including the flight deck.
What is the Eclipse 500 jet's safety record?
The aircraft is certified by the FAA, including for flight into known icing. Like any older aircraft type, its history includes FAA airworthiness directives, such as the 2011 altitude restriction linked to engine surges. Ask the operator about a specific aircraft's maintenance and upgrade status.