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Sikorsky Contracted To Build Eclipse 550 Airframe And Wings By Steve Hall |
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May 20, 2012 - PZL Mielec announced has signed an agreement to produce airframe components for Eclipse Aerospace, Inc., contingent upon the launch of Eclipse 550 jet production. The Eclipse 550 is a proposed development version of the Eclipse 500 to be built by Eclipse Aerospace. Like the 500, the 550 will be a low-wing, six seat, twin jet-engined aircraft. The aircraft was announced at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas, Nevada in October 2011, with deliveries expected to commence in 2013. The 550 is being developed from the earlier Eclipse 500, enabled by Sikorsky Aircraft's investment in Eclipse Aerospace in 2010. It will incorporate an improved avionics package, autothrottles, synthetic vision and enhanced vision systems. |
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Wing, fuselage and tail component manufacture is initially
planned for Sikorsky's PZL plant in Poland, with final assembly
carried out by Eclipse Aerospace at their Albuquerque, New
Mexico plant. The initial price is expected to be 2.695M and
production is intended to be 50-100 aircraft per year.
The aircraft achieved an FAA production certificate in April
2012. The Eclipse 550 is a light twin-engine jet with a 1,125
nautical mile range at speeds up to 375 knots and an economical
cruise fuel consumption of 59 gallons per hour.
Major components include the fuselage, empennage and wings for
the Eclipse 550 jet. PZL Mielec would manufacture these
components in Poland and ship them to Eclipse?s facilities in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, for final assembly and delivery to
customers once Eclipse officially starts production. PZL Mielec
is an affiliate of Sikorsky Aircraft, which is a subsidiary of
United Technologies Corp.
PZL Mielec currently produces the M-28 fixed wing aircraft and
the Sikorsky S-70i? international BLACK HAWK helicopter.
?Sikorsky is proud of our ability to utilize world class
facilities such as PZL to lower the overall cost of supply chain
components and manufacturing for the Eclipse Jet,? said Shane
Eddy, Vice President, Global Supply Chain, for Sikorsky. |