Sikorsky Contracted To Build Eclipse 550 Airframe And Wings

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Sikorsky Contracted To Build Eclipse 550 Airframe And Wings By Steve Hall

		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.

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.

		Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., USA, is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture, and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries. Other News Stories (For the latest news please checkout our home page) Unauthorized Pilots Entering Olympics Airspace Will Have License Suspended FAA Makes Progress With Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Light Jet Industry To Revolutionize By The New Learjet 70 And Learjet 75 Airbus Corporate Jets Gain Approval For Part 135 Operations Northrop To Provide Navigation Systems For Cessna's New Business Jet FAA Issues 18-Month General Aviation Airports Study Court Grants Flight Support Injunction Against Servisair Joint Venture FAA To Be Audited On Implementation Progress On Its ADS-B Program Alaska Airlines Wins Approval For Portland Washington, D.C., Service FAA Raises Awareness On Child Safety As Summer Travel Season Nears Medical Official Explains F-22 Pilot-Protection Efforts Boeing Completes 1st Flight Of QF-16 Aerial Target For US Air Force AgustaWestland AW169 Helicopter Completes Its Maiden Flight Fedex To Acquire TATEX, A French Express Transportation Company ACLU In Appeals Court For No Fly List Challenge FAA Taps ITT Corp. And GE's Naverus To Develop Nextgen RNP Procedures Bombardier Learjet 85 Aircraft Is In Full Production UPS Financing In Place For The Purchase Of TNT Express The First Customer Built Sonex Aircraft, The Onex Sport Aircraft Takes Flight FAA To Be Audited On Its Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Procedures UK Civil Aviation Authority To Allow Pilots To Fly VFR At Night Boeing KC-46 Tanker Program Completes Preliminary Design Review Congress Urged To Focus On Asia-Pacific Travel And Entry Issues At Airports Dreamliner Makes First Time Landing At Reagan National Airport Swiss Pilots Fly Gripen E/F Test Aircraft With Great Success Airline Passenger Traffic Continues To Be Affected By High Oil Prices Oklahoma Couple Pleads Guilty In Conspiracy To Steal Military Jet Fuel Great Slave Helicopters Completes Acquisition Of Northern Air Support GE Aviation Expands R&D On Silicon Carbide In Pompano Beach Cessna And AVIC Partnership Strengthens Supply For China Aviation Needs Boeing?s Wiglet For B-737 Max Provides Additional 1.5 Percent Fuel Burn Gyroplanes Builder, Groen Brothers Aviation Reaches Agreement With Creditors Flight Data Recorder Manufacturing Report Shows Industry Doing Quite Well