Better times:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QeXPh3fJqk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAUrjbpi7NI

2700 foot strip, my shortest in this bird.

Impressive.

I'm sorry Michael that the plane couldn't be saved. On the other hand it looks like you did well on the whole experience financially, so that' something.

I don't know what to make of the company. People swear by them and swear at them.

I'm headed to ABQ Thursday to see for myself...

Sorry to hear about the Eclipse.

For a minute there, I thought you sold the Bucker. That would indeed have been a tragedy! Still want to see that one up close when I'm back in FL one of these trips.

The new ones are wonderful but I wish they could have saved the older versions. 1947 Bonanzas are still flying, why not support and keep the older Eclipses flying? They wanted a $ million bucks to keep mine current but I was happy with the quirks and deficiencies of 1.0 version.

Shameful is all I can say. No wonder Eclipse is not selling any new planes. With reputation like that, who's going to trust them?

I flew the Bucker today and did some light Acro. It's an amazing airplane. Nobody wants the Bucker it, they are scared of the motor which is totally reliable! Its for sale to make hangar space only. Come fly it next time you are close, its an awesome bird.

We all know moving a certified to experimental doesn't work. But what you could have possibly done is rebuilt 51% of it (in time, not parts, as I understand it) as a perfect copy, and had it as fully amateur built forever with your own avionics. Big undertaking, for sure, but doable in theory.

This.

Before Eclipse had flown their fist plane, I had money down on one, I was SO excited about it, and now it ends up being one of the few potholes presented to me that I didn't fall into (for me the loss of that kind of money would have been devastating, financially). The planes are spectacular, and it's SO sad that this plane, and these ones are going to be put down, it's just hard to believe that there's no way that company can keep them flying, I do think it makes them look bad.

400 hours & it's done? HARD for me to buy.

Yes, purely a business decision.

I think the damage to their reputation greatly outweighs the supposed benefits they see in grounding these aircraft. Every potential new buyer of an EA550 will have to reconcile doing business with a dishonorable company.

You don't buy a jet, you buy a jet ecosystem.

Mike C.

Can't agree with you more, Mike.

You're probably talking of Tim Cappelli? I've got quite a few hours in N???VW. He has other intentions and is very bright so I think he will be OK.

Curious who is buying used engines? Is any airframe at TBO?

The new ones are wonderful but I wish they could have saved the older versions. 1947 Bonanzas are still flying, why not support and keep the older Eclipses flying? They wanted a $ million bucks to keep mine current but I was happy with the quirks and deficiencies of 1.0 version.

A movie star with the initials JT who also owns a 707. It was certified with 10 years or 10,000 hours. All are approaching the 10 year mark, none that I'm aware of are over 2000 hours. At 10 years, you MUST get a 48 month inspection done at an Eclipse Center and this includes the 2 hours corrosion inspection. The early Eclipses are not eligible for this life extension.