While I'll never be able to afford one, the Eclipse project is a radical reduction in cost for small business jets. They've done some really slick things that I hope will filter down into the more modest general aviation levels where I dwell. It's great to see someone's dream come true. Now, on to certification and production! I know someone who has one on order. Maybe I can get some stick time in his! He has offered to take me flying in his Lancair IV-P but we've never been able to hook up at the airport.

Tom, I remember the Fox Jet very well. I saw their mockups at Oshkosh back in the late 1980s. Interestingly enough, they were also supposed to be powered by small Williams turbofan engines. The first year, he showed a version powered by two 600 pound thrust engines. He even had a bigger 3-engined proposal. Later, he switched to two 800 pound thrust engines and dropped the 3-engine model. I don't know if Tony Fox was ever serious about building the plane or if it was just a scam, but the mockups were beautiful.

I don't know how much growth potential was engineered into the Eclipse for things like increased fuel capacity. The current specs call for a 4700 pound takeoff weight and an empty weight of 2700 pounds, leaving a useful load of 2000 pounds. Full fuel is 1330 pounds, so that only leaves you with 670 pounds for passengers. Unless they can increase the useful load, there's little margin for increasing the fuel capacity.