What's it gonna take?

"Viperdoc" wrote in message
...
Eclipse will survive only if they can deliver 500-600 planes a year, and
if they do not encounter engine or avionics issues along the way (as they
already have). Their current production is less than around 20-30 a month,
not enough to keep the cash flow going for very long.

Well, they have 2000 on order, so 500-600 a year isn't going to be to tough
once they get going.

Read their whitepaper on their production methods.


There is also no way an Eclipse will cost $415 an hour, even if flown
hundreds of hours a year. Fuel alone will cost $300 an hour,

At full power, it's 90gph; at cruise it's 55 to 60. That 90gph is when it
climbs to FL350 in 21 minutes.

and insurance for 2 million is around $25,000 a year.

Insurance is 32,000K divided by an estimated 500 hrs a year = $64/hr.

At 200 hours a year this already

Not too many jets fly 200 hours a year - more like 500, or more for air
taxi/charter.

adds up to over $500/hr. Figure any regular maintenance and engine
reserves, hangar, etc, and it'll be at least $750 an hour.

Maint and reserves come under their "Jet Complete" program which is $150/hr
and covers scheduled and unscheduled maintenace, flight support, recurrent
training, a fuel program that discounts fuel 40 cents a gallon, AOG over
night, nav and WX database updates, rental engine coverage, etc.

As for engine TBO reserve, it's going to be far less than a TP engine (with
prop OH)or a Williams FJ-44 or 33.


They are also range and payload limited, particularly compared to
turboprops.

Their NBAA ranges is 1125 nm, for a King Air C90 it's 831.

They are small and tight inside, especially compared to a King Air.

They have more leg room (18") than a King Air C90 (7.5"), are 1.2 inches
narrower, and 4" shorter (47" vs 51") They fly 100 kts faster, and climb
nearly twice as fast, s your trip time is less.

Their market may be smaller than they originally proposed, and with lots
of competition. Unless they ramp up significantly and start rolling a lot
of planes out the door soon, they will run out of cash unless they get a
ton more venture capital.

Having Bill Gates, whathisface Allen, and several other high rollers is a
pretty good influx of capital.