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#1
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Eclipse 500
Hi all,
I was very impressed by the article on the Eclipse 500 in the latest AOPA magazine. After so much skepticism, criticism, and so forth, it appears that the promised aircraft is about to be delivered. I was particularly impressed by the description of the development process, and by the comprehensive training program that is being created. It's nice to see such forward-thinking being implemented in today's GA environment. What is your reaction to this plane? Neil |
#2
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What is your reaction to this plane?
I like the way the on-board computer system is integrated into many every-day items from the get-go. The engines, avionics, and environmental systems are all very high-tech, and should be easier to operate and trouble-shoot than any other jet. On the other end of the scale, I like the way they've kept things simple where they could. Using simple mechanical connections for the control surfaces and landing gear saves $$$ both now, and during maintenance. Making sure everything is cheaply and easily maintained is essential to their mission, and it looks like they're going down the right road. That said, it'll never be in my hangar. But I wish them well. -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA Pathfinder N56993 www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" |
#3
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Jay Honeck wrote:
On the other end of the scale, I like the way they've kept things simple where they could. Using simple mechanical connections for the control surfaces and landing gear saves $$$ both now, and during maintenance. Making sure everything is cheaply and easily maintained is essential to their mission, and it looks like they're going down the right road. "Cheaply" is not a word I like to associate with aircrafy maintenance. :-)) |
#4
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It sounds great but the price has already risen almost 40% (in constant
dollars) for the initial $840K. I know of more than one person that put down a deposit and won't be able to pay for the airplane unless they win the lotto. Mike MU-2 "Neil Gould" wrote in message .. . Hi all, I was very impressed by the article on the Eclipse 500 in the latest AOPA magazine. After so much skepticism, criticism, and so forth, it appears that the promised aircraft is about to be delivered. I was particularly impressed by the description of the development process, and by the comprehensive training program that is being created. It's nice to see such forward-thinking being implemented in today's GA environment. What is your reaction to this plane? Neil |
#5
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The plane looks great but the cost has risen so much from the original plan
such that it is now "evolutionary" and not "revolutionary." The ability of the company to provide long-term support is a key question because an orphaned airplane would lose lots of value. Therefore, I think for anyone considering a VLJ, the Cessna Mustang is a better long-term investment. There is no doubt Cessna will be around for the long-term; the jury is still out on Eclipse. -------------------- Richard Kaplan www.flyimc.com |
#6
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Recently, Mike Rapoport posted:
It sounds great but the price has already risen almost 40% (in constant dollars) for the initial $840K. I know of more than one person that put down a deposit and won't be able to pay for the airplane unless they win the lotto. On one hand, that's understandable, but wouldn't the reality be that those people really couldn't afford the plane in the first place? Training and maintenance can't be inconsequential considerations of the real cost of ownership. In this respect, I was also impressed that Eclipse will be returning the deposits of those who can't qualify to fly the plane. Neil |
#7
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Recently, Richard Kaplan posted:
The plane looks great but the cost has risen so much from the original plan such that it is now "evolutionary" and not "revolutionary." Evolved from... what? What other VLJs will be delivered within the next year? The ability of the company to provide long-term support is a key question because an orphaned airplane would lose lots of value. Ever look at the price of a North American P-51? You could have bought several of the originals for the price of one today! ;-) Therefore, I think for anyone considering a VLJ, the Cessna Mustang is a better long-term investment. There is no doubt Cessna will be around for the long-term; the jury is still out on Eclipse. Well, this is a judgement call that would be dependent on many factors, not the least being how many Mustangs make it to the market compared to Eclipse 500s. Considering that Cessna and Piper are being outsold by Cirrus, I don't see a company's history as a very good predictor of their future success. People will buy the aircraft that they think represents a better choice for their mission, and since the VLJ market will be at least in part defined by return on investment, I think that planes costing several times more to purchase and maintain will have an uphill battle against the E-500. Neil |
#8
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Recently, Jay Honeck posted:
What is your reaction to this plane? I like the way the on-board computer system is integrated into many every-day items from the get-go. The engines, avionics, and environmental systems are all very high-tech, and should be easier to operate and trouble-shoot than any other jet. Agreed. On the other end of the scale, I like the way they've kept things simple where they could. Using simple mechanical connections for the control surfaces and landing gear saves $$$ both now, and during maintenance. Making sure everything is cheaply and easily maintained is essential to their mission, and it looks like they're going down the right road. I also liked the model of redundancy that is being used. It should make the plane both more reliable and economical to maintain. That said, it'll never be in my hangar. But I wish them well. Perhaps not, but it may help to insure that you have places to land your Pathfinder... ;-) Neil |
#9
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("Mike Rapoport" wrote)
It sounds great but the price has already risen almost 40% (in constant dollars) for the initial $840K. I know of more than one person that put down a deposit and won't be able to pay for the airplane unless they win the lotto. Can they sell their spot in line - thus getting back their deposit and making a little on the side? BTW, what were the price guarantees for the early deposit people? I would think they'd get a price break vs. someone deciding, today, that they want an Eclipse. Montblack |
#10
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"Neil Gould" wrote in message . .. Recently, Mike Rapoport posted: It sounds great but the price has already risen almost 40% (in constant dollars) for the initial $840K. I know of more than one person that put down a deposit and won't be able to pay for the airplane unless they win the lotto. On one hand, that's understandable, but wouldn't the reality be that those people really couldn't afford the plane in the first place? Training and maintenance can't be inconsequential considerations of the real cost of ownership. In this respect, I was also impressed that Eclipse will be returning the deposits of those who can't qualify to fly the plane. Neil Let's be honest... Most people buy the most airplane they can reasonbly afford. That's why you see lots of people flying C-150's, Ercoupes, and the like. When people decide "Hey, if I do X, Y, and Z, I can afford that new $840,000 Eclipse.", and the price goes up by $350,000, it is no surprise to me that the extra up-front cost might run off a few customers. Beyond that, there are plenty of people who probably saw the Eclipse as a good value (if that's possible with an airplane) at $840k. Add $350k to the ticket, and the bang for the buck just took a real hit. KB |
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