Eclipse Aviation Corp., manufacturer of the Eclipse 500 very light jet, has achieved an important certification milestone by completing the required FAA certification testing for engine ice protection. Successful inlet icing tests of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F has fulfilled all FAA inlet icing requirements for the powerplant system. The tests were completed in Canada’s National Research Council’s approved icing tunnel located in Ottawa.
The company also has completed initial engine testing and low speed taxi tests on its second certification test jet, N502EA, in preparation for flight test later this month. The test fleet is made up of seven aircraft, five of which will be used for flight testing and two airframes for static and fatigue testing.