What Eclipse Aviation does

Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. (previously Eclipse Aviation) designs and manufactures twin-engine Very Light Jets (VLJs), principally the Eclipse 550 ($2.995MM in standard configuration) and the Eclipse 500 Special Edition ($2.195MM), with newer variants including the Eclipse CANADA and the Eclipse SE retrofit program for legacy aircraft. The company was re-established in 2014 in New Mexico after the original Eclipse Aviation filed for bankruptcy in 2009; the predecessor had raised approximately $493M between 1999 and 2008, including rounds led by Cascade Investment, with Acorn Capital Partners, Cascade Investment, and Subaru Corporation among later investors. Eclipse is a privately held corporation headquartered at 3520 Spirit Dr. SE in Albuquerque, NM, with additional service centers in Aurora, IL (Chicago metro) and Vero Beach, FL, and 101–250 employees.

The aircraft are built around several proprietary technologies: the Dual Avio Integrated Flight Management System (IFMS), a 13-microprocessor avionics suite with dual WAAS/SBAS GPS, Class 3 E-charts, XM Satellite Weather, and integrated autopilot that enables single-pilot operation; friction stir welding (FSW) of primary airframe structures, FAA-approved in 2002 and approximately 10x faster than manual riveting; an electronically activated anti-skid braking system demonstrated to stop the aircraft in approximately 700 feet at normal landing speeds; the first auto throttles in the light jet category; pneumatic Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) de-icing boots; and the PhostrEx fire suppression system, the first Halon alternative approved by the EPA and FAA in over 50 years. Propulsion comes from two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F turbofan engines (900 lbs thrust each, FADEC-controlled), and PPG Aerospace supplies the chromate-free paint system.

Eclipse sells aircraft through a direct-to-consumer factory sales motion supported by dedicated outside-sales phone lines, three US service centers, an online customer portal for parts ordering and airworthiness documentation, and the Eclipse QRA iPad application. Revenue is generated from one-time aircraft sales (high-ticket, ~$2.2M–$3.0M per unit) plus recurring parts and service revenue from the installed fleet, including AOG (Aircraft on Ground) emergency support. The customer base is composed of individual private buyers — business professionals, pilot-owners, and families — with no disclosed enterprise or fractional-operator accounts; market positioning targets the NBAA-estimated 70% of private flights that are under 750 nautical miles with three or fewer passengers, a mission profile Eclipse's aircraft are designed to serve efficiently.

Name

Eclipse Aviation

Legal name

Eclipse Aerospace, Inc.

Website

https://eclipse.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. designs and manufactures twin-engine Very Light Jets (VLJs), including the Eclipse 550 ($2.995MM) and Eclipse 500 Special Edition ($2.195MM), serving private pilots, business professionals, and families through direct factory sales and a three-location US service network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Sales: Sale of Eclipse 550 and Eclipse Jet aircraft. The Eclipse 550 costs $2.995MM in standard configuration, positioning it as the only twin-engine jet under $3 million. The Eclipse 500 Special Edition is priced at $2.195MM.
2. Parts and Services: Parts sales and service maintenance through dedicated service centers in Albuquerque, Aurora, and Vero Beach. Provides ongoing support for existing aircraft owners through customer portal.
3. Service and Maintenance: Service engineering and maintenance support for Eclipse Jet operators, including AOG (Aircraft on Ground) emergency service options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Eclipse Aviation designs, manufactures, and services twin-engine Very Light Jets (VLJs), with the Eclipse 550 ($2.995MM) as its flagship production aircraft and the Eclipse Jet / Eclipse 500 Special Edition ($2.195MM) as its value-tier offering. The company also markets the Eclipse CANADA performance variant, the Eclipse SE (Special Edition) modernization program for legacy aircraft, the proprietary PhostrEx fire suppression system, and the Eclipse QRA iPad application for flight planning. Revenue is generated through one-time aircraft sales, recurring parts, and ongoing service/maintenance support via three U.S. service centers and an online customer portal.

Product overview

Eclipse Aerospace produces a portfolio of Very Light Jets (VLJs) centered on the Eclipse 550 platform, the world's most fuel-efficient twin-engine jet. The product lineup includes the standard Eclipse 550 ($2.995MM), the higher-specification Eclipse Jet category, the newly launched Eclipse CANADA variant with enhanced performance, and the Eclipse SE program for modernizing legacy aircraft. Beyond aircraft, Eclipse offers the proprietary Avio IFMS integrated avionics system (a virtual copilot with dual flight management, E-charts, and XM weather), the PhostrEx EPA/FAA-approved Halon-alternative fire suppression system, and the Eclipse QRA iPad application for flight planning. The company differentiates through fuel efficiency (48-59 gallons per hour), friction stir welding manufacturing technology, and advanced safety features including auto-throttles and anti-skid braking. Eclipse also partners with Pratt & Whitney Canada for engines, IS&S for GPS, and PPG Aerospace for paint systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eclipse Jet: The VLJ that invented the category; includes Eclipse 550 standard bearer and Eclipse Jet (formerly Eclipse 500 Special Edition).
• Eclipse 550
• Eclipse CANADA
• PhostrEx

Quantifiable outcome

• Fuel consumption of 48-59 gallons per hour at cruise - twice the fuel burn of a large SUV traveling at 70 mph
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pratt & Whitney CanadacoreTechnology or IntegrationPratt & Whitney Canada supplies the PW610F turbofan engines for the Eclipse 550, each producing 900 lbs of thrust. Engines feature FADEC control and are described as the most efficient jet engines in the world.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Honda Aircraft Company: Manufacturer of the HondaJet, a twin-engine VLJ/light jet that directly competes with the Eclipse 550 in the entry-light-jet segment, leveraging advanced over-the-wing engine mounts and comparable pricing.
• Daher (TBM): Manufacturer of the TBM 900/960 series single-engine turboprop, an owner-flown light aircraft that competes for the same short-haul private mission profile (<750nm, 3-4 passengers) as the Eclipse 550.
• Pilatus Aircraft: Manufacturer of the PC-24, a twin-engine light jet often grouped with Eclipse in the entry-light-jet segment, competing for owner-flown and small-corporate missions with similar range and pricing.
• Cirrus Aircraft: Manufacturer of the Vision Jet, the closest single-engine VLJ competitor to the Eclipse 550, targeting the same owner-flown and light business-travel segment with comparable price points and mission profiles.

Broad incumbents

• Embraer Executive Jets: Manufacturer of the Phenom 100/300 light jets, which overlap directly with the Eclipse 550 in entry/light private aviation while also serving midsize and large-cabin segments with broader portfolio depth.
• Gulfstream Aerospace: Large-cabin and super-midsize business-jet OEM that, while positioned above Eclipse in price/size, anchors the broader private-aviation market in which Eclipse competes for share-of-wallet among HNW buyers and corporate flight departments.
• Bombardier Defense & Business Jets: Manufacturer of the Learjet and Challenger families; while positioned above Eclipse in size/price, Bombardier is a comparable North-American business-jet OEM competing for the same private-aviation customer wallet.
• Textron Aviation (Cessna Citation): Manufacturer of the Citation M2 and broader Citation jet family, a well-established incumbent competing across all light-jet price points and offering a much larger global service network than Eclipse.

Emerging players

• Diamond Aircraft: Austrian manufacturer of the DA62 and upcoming DART-550/650 turboprop/light jets, an emerging player in the owner-flown light-aircraft space that overlaps Eclipse's mission profile and price-conscious customer base.
• Epic Aircraft: Manufacturer of the Epic LT and E1000, a smaller light-aircraft OEM competing for the high-performance owner-flown segment at price points and missions adjacent to the Eclipse 550.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/eclipsejet
• Facebookfacebook.com/EclipseAerospace

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds9 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eclipse Aviation