Eclipse xcls Williams Engine Deal...

[MSNFlier]

Saw this first on AOPA's Member Web Site.

Disappointing for Eclipse (and Williams). Anyone have any thoughts on who the new engine supplier could be?

PRESS RELEASE

Press Contact:
Cory Canada
Eclipse Aviation Corp.
505-245-7555
[email protected]

Eclipse Aviation Terminates Contract with Williams International
Two “Fortune 100” Engine Suppliers Vie to Power Eclipse 500 Jet

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — November 27, 2002 — Eclipse Aviation Corporation, manufacturer of the Eclipse 500 jet, today announced that it has ended its relationship with Williams International, developer of the EJ22 turbofan, initially intended to power the Eclipse 500 jet. Eclipse also revealed today that it is in late-stage discussions with two “Fortune 100” engine suppliers, who are competing to replace Williams International as the powerplant supplier for the innovative Eclipse 500 jet.

“Our substantial order book and the significant accomplishments Eclipse has achieved to date have validated the major market for this category,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. “The industry has responded by rallying around this segment — and today there are new choices from world-class companies for engines designed to power lightweight jet aircraft. We are pleased to be in negotiations with two of the industry’s most respected suppliers, and look forward to moving ahead with the company that offers the best solution for powering the Eclipse 500.”

The difficult decision to end Eclipse Aviation’s relationship with Williams International follows an intense period of analysis and deliberation involving Eclipse Aviation’s executive management team, its board of directors, and an independent propulsion expert.

It was determined that the EJ22 is not a viable solution for the Eclipse 500 aircraft and Williams International has not met its contractual obligations. Development of the EJ22 is significantly behind schedule and all analyses indicate it will not meet the requirements of Eclipse 500 customers.

“With the best interests of all Eclipse Aviation stakeholders in mind, we came to the difficult but unavoidable decision to terminate the contract with Williams International,” said Kent Kresa, chairman and CEO of Northrop Grumman and director of Eclipse Aviation Corporation. “Despite this temporary setback, I am confident in Eclipse Aviation’s ability to produce an excellent aircraft.”

Schedule Impact

The Eclipse 500 was originally scheduled to receive FAA type certification in Winter 2003/2004. Today’s announcement impacts Eclipse’s planned certification timeline. Raburn confirms that, “Certification will be impacted.” But he states, “Until we complete our detailed plans and select the new propulsion source, it is still too early to identify specific timing.”

“We’ve built the aircraft and all other systems are flight ready, including the avionics and mechanical systems,” said Raburn. “In addition, we’ve received FAA approval on friction stir welding and obtained ODAR status. At this point, the engine development program will drive certification timing, and the propulsion system will be our team’s primary focus in the coming months. We are confident that the new engine selected will result in a better airplane for our customers.”

Eclipse 500 Meets Significant Milestones in Quest to Change Air Travel

The Eclipse 500 is a twin-engine jet aircraft enabling the creation of new forms of air travel that will provide much-needed alternatives to commercial airlines. Designed and developed by Eclipse Aviation, the Eclipse 500 costs approximately a quarter of today’s small jet aircraft and will be significantly safer, easier and less expensive to fly.

Over the past several years Eclipse Aviation has developed a reputation for consistently achieving its goals. A summary of the most significant milestones recently achieved follows:

- FAA awarded Eclipse Aviation Organizational Designated Airworthiness Representative (ODAR) credential; September 2002

- Eclipse 500 Order Book Tops 2,000; September 2002

- Eclipse 500 Jet Achieves First Flight; August 2002

- Global Aerospace Will Offer Insurance to Eclipse 500 Jet Owners; July 2002

- Eclipse Aviation Announces Avio™ Intelligent Flight System for Eclipse 500 Jets; July 2002

- Four Rounds of Private Equity Funding Complete; July 2002

- Eclipse Aviation Unveils Revolutionary Eclipse 500 Jet; July 2002

- Eclipse Aviation Awarded FAA Approval of Friction Stir Welding Process Specification Approval; June 2002 (one year ahead of schedule)

Having raised $238 million in private equity funding to date, the company is believed to be the most highly funded aviation startup in history.

About Eclipse

Eclipse Aviation is in the business of designing, certifying and producing modern, affordable jet aircraft that will revolutionize the transportation market. The company is applying revolutionary propulsion, manufacturing and electronics systems to produce aircraft that cost less than a third of today's small jet aircraft, will be significantly safer and easier to operate than those of today, and have the lowest cost of ownership ever achieved in a jet aircraft.

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.

 

[Snakum]

This sounds a little far-fetched to me. Eclipse dumping Williams? Maybe the other way around. And wasn't the Eclipse orderbook just recently halved?

I've always loved an underdog. And if the microjets meet op targets you can be sure that there'll be thousands of them flying PTP around little out of the way places. Unfortunately, they're probably going to be made by Cessna.

Minh

 

[throttlejockey]

The Eclipse is offically dead at this point.

The whole basis for the production of this aircraft was the powerplant.

No powerplant - no airplane.

The production delays and reliability problems of the original RB211 enigne is the reason Lockheed only built 250 L1011's. If the RB211 was on schedule and meet operational targets, we would all be flying on L1011's instead of Boeings.

my $.02

 

[CitationCapt]

Engine performance shortfall

I believe that there are some significant performance targets that the EJ22 could not meet at this stage of initial production.

What will be interesting are the alternatives and the unit cost of each. In the end, can Eclipse meet three goals- product price, economics predictions and performance targets. Hopefully those holding production positions can be patient for a successful outcome.

Cessna's Mustang is proposed to have a Williams Engine. This might be a derivative of the already popular FJ44 in a lower thrust class (~1,300#).

CC

 

[enigma]

The whole basis for the production of this aircraft was the powerplant.

Actually, I think that the breakthrough that allowed Eclipse to define itself in a new catagory of aviation (low priced jet) was in the friction stir welding process. The airframe is not especially leading edge in any aero sense, it is just cheap to produce. What makes the airplane different is not its efficiency, it was that they promised to deliver it for the price of a Baron.
regards,
8N

 

[reaperman]

The Eclipse is offically dead at this point

throttlejockey, You must be reading some press release the rest of us haven't seen.

CitationCapt, I wish I could find a source for this, sorry. I believe the Mustang is planned to use some variant of the FJ33. The FJ44 is way too heavy.

While the welding process was a major factor in the design, I think just as important was the promise of adequately powered simple, and relatively cheap engines accounting for only 4% of the gross weight of the plane. After all, the Eclipse was born indirectly out of NASA’s AGATE propulsion program and was designed around the proposed specifications of the EJ22.

Now they’ll have to scramble to keep the plane from ending up being a Citation Mustang clone. No doubt, it will be several hundred pounds heavier, less fuel efficient, later to market, and ultimately more expensive than originally planned. Eventually, some engine will meet the promise of the EJ22. Let’s hope by that time, there are some airports left for them to fly to.

 

[darien]

"paying only about a mil more for a Cessna Mustang"

Boy it must be nice to be able to say that. If production does increase the price substantially it will be interestiong to see what will happen to the order book.