Models
Eclipse Aviation aircraft in the FAA registry
Eclipse Aviation Corporation was an Albuquerque, New Mexico, manufacturer known for the Eclipse 500 very light jet. The company was founded in 1998 by Vern Raburn, with Bill Gates as a major stakeholder. Production of the Eclipse 500 halted in October 2008, and the company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2008 before liquidating in August 2009.
Registry Overview
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) registry, data as of 2026-10-16, there are 224 registered Eclipse Aviation aircraft under the manufacturer name "ECLIPSE AVIATION CORP". All 224 registrations are valid. These aircraft are classified as fixed wing multi-engine types powered by turbofan engines. The fleet consists of 206 standard airworthiness class aircraft and 6 experimental class aircraft.
Models and Specifications
The registry contains two distinct models. The EA500 is the dominant model, with 220 aircraft registered. These were built between 2006 and 2008 and feature six seats. Four additional aircraft are registered under the model name 500, also with six seats. The Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) A00002AC, held by Eclipse Aerospace Inc., covers the EA500 model.
Geographic Distribution
Delaware has the highest concentration of registrations with 35 aircraft. Florida follows with 21 registrations, and Texas has 15. Most of the fleet was built between 2005 and 2008, with half of the aircraft built in 2008 or earlier.
Figures from the FAA registry file as of Oct 16, 2026. Company background: Wikipedia, Eclipse Aviation.