Fuji Heavy Industries Begins Full-scale Production of Wing Assemblies for Eclipse 500
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Fuji Heavy Industries Begins Full-scale Production of Wing Assemblies for Eclipse 500
Tokyo, Japan, Mar 06, 2006 (JCN Newswire via COMTEX) -- Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), a global manufacturer of transportation and aerospace-related products and the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced its Aerospace Company has started assembly of wings for the first production Eclipse 500, a very light jet (VLJ) pioneered by Eclipse Aviation Corporation. FHI recently conducted an in-house ceremony intended, according to Japanese custom, to mark the beginning of full-fledged production and to promote safety in the workplace. Shipments of Wing Assemblies to Eclipse Aviation in the U.S. are slated to begin in mid-April of this year.
Suitable for six occupants, the Eclipse 500 is a dynamic, new VLJ, developed and engineered by Eclipse Aviation. The corporation expects to acquire FAA (Federation Aviation Administration) Type Certification for the Eclipse 500 in 2nd quarter 2006. The aircraft adopts innovative technology such as friction stir welding and other design innovations that significantly reduce manufacturing cost and allow for high-volume production. By these engineering and design features, unprecedented in the industry, combined with a growing demand for VLJs in the air taxi industry, Eclipse Aviation has obtained more than 2,400 orders for the Eclipse 500.
In October 2003, FHI entered into a strategic partnership with Eclipse Aviation to manufacture complete Wing Assemblies for the Eclipse 500. To keep initial investment costs in balance, FHI currently utilizes its existing production facilities and buildings for the Wing Assemblies. As demand grows, FHI plans to raise production capacities and build new production lines to enable higher-volume, lower-cost manufacturing of the Eclipse 500 Wing Assemblies.
About Eclipse Aviation Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Eclipse Aviation Corporation designs and produces modern, affordable jet aircrafts that will revolutionize the transportation market. The Eclipse 500, a very light jet (VLJ), is 10.1 meters long and 11.4 meters wide, and weighs only 2, 558 kilograms.
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