Eclipse Aviation

The Eclipse Aviation Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

History

The company was founded in 1998 by former Microsoft executive Vern Raburn, who held the position of CEO until July 2008. The number of employees was approximately 1,300 people in 2007.

November 25, 2008, just four days after the European type- approval for the Eclipse 500, the company filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 The reason for the financial problems called the management the wrong -assessed production costs, which in the summer of 2007 led to a significant increase in sales prices had led. The trial commenced on 20 January 2009. On 5 March 2009, however, the liquidation of Eclipse Aviation began under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. An auction of the equipment is scheduled for August 2009. Meanwhile, it was announced that the former distribution partner ETIRC assume means of specially formed company EclipseJet Eclipse Aviation and wanted to continue the production and maintenance of the Eclipse 500. However, it was unable to raise the necessary funding for the acquisition. In the spring of 2009 ETIRC even went bankrupt. An auction of resources and sites of Eclipse Aviation was scheduled for August 2009.

A consequence of the insolvency and liquidation was that the European Aviation Safety Agency due to unpaid fees exposing their approval for the Eclipse 500 from 1 July 2009.

Eclipse Aerospace

The Eclipse Aviation was acquired by Mike Press and Mason Holland and renamed on 20 August 2009 in Eclipse Aerospace.

Models

Eclipse Aviation delivered the twin-engine Very Light Jet ( VLJ ) Eclipse 500 from from 2006 - until the end of production forced about 270 copies left the factory in Albuquerque. Other planned production sites were New York and Gainesville, Florida. In 2007, a first designated as an Eclipse Concept Jet, flight prototype of a single-beam light aircraft was presented. From May 2008, she was offered the type as Eclipse 400 for sale. The delivery should take place from the end of 2011.