New Mexico Chapter
    Photo Essay:  New Mexico Chapter of US Naval Academy Alumni Association visits Eclipse Aviation, Albuquerque
Eclipse Headquarters BuildingOn Saturday 19 April 2008, New Mexico Chapter Alumni and guests were treated to a tour of the Albuquerque headquarters area and the Initial and Final Assembly facilities for Eclipse Aviation.   The Eclipse 500 jet is the first very light jet.  Eclipse is operating on a 3-shift, 24/7 production basis.  The company is currently up to a production level of one of the $1.4M Eclipse 500 planes each day.  The company goal is to produce two planes per day. 
Eclipse 500
 Eclipse 500  Our tour guides for the day were two former presidents of the Alumni Chapter:  Mike Petrofes '80 and Casey Jones '60. 
Eclipse 500 - 18
 Eclipse 500 - cockpit
Eclipse 500 - 21
 Eclipse 500 - 26
Eclipse 500 - 29
 Eclipse Concept - 10
Eclipse Concept - 11
 We were fascinated to see the aircraft initial assembly and final assembly areas (no photos were allowed in those areas).   The metal sides of the plane are about the thickness of an old-school beer can, and are fastened in a rivet-less friction welding process.
The final two photos show the Eclipse Concept, a small aircraft that has been created to test its marketability. 
This page updated as of 20 April 2008                      Return to Chapter home page