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twistedenginestarter
24th Sep 2001, 13:14
Nimbus Group Awards Eclipse Aviation Order for 1,000 Aircraft


Fleet of Eclipse 500 jets will enable air taxi services

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — September 17, 2001 — Eclipse Aviation Corporation today announced Nimbus Group (AMEX: TTA) has placed an order for 1,000 Eclipse 500 jet aircraft. Nimbus plans to use the aircraft to operate air taxi services throughout North and South America.

In a related move, Nimbus has committed to make an equity investment in Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the next-generation Eclipse 500 jet. Specific information about the equity investment has not been disclosed.

“Today Eclipse Aviation and Nimbus are one step closer to providing people with an alternative to scheduled air transportation services,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. “With this fleet order our vision of an air taxi service will become a reality. We at Eclipse could not be happier.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Eclipse will deliver the aircraft to Nimbus over a five-year period beginning in 2004. The deal creates a time-to-market advantage for Nimbus and provides for the aggressive and rapid expansion of the company’s fleet.

“Eclipse is creating an aircraft, that for the first time ever, will offer characteristics, acquisition and direct operating costs low enough to enable the creation of an affordable, personal air taxi service,” said Ilia Lekach, president and CEO of Nimbus Group. “We recognized the unique and exciting opportunity the Eclipse 500 makes possible and we will be proud to be the first to offer an air taxi service on this continent.”


About Eclipse

Eclipse Aviation is in the business of designing, certifying and producing modern, affordable jet aircraft that will revolutionize the transportation market. The company is applying revolutionary propulsion, manufacturing and electronics systems to produce aircraft that cost less than a third of today's small jet aircraft, will be significantly safer and easier to operate than those of today, and have the lowest cost of ownership ever achieved in a jet aircraft.

The goal of Eclipse is to bring the word "personal" into aviation, making it possible for commercial air passengers to move directly between cities on a quick, affordable and convenient basis. It will also allow pilot owners to enter the world of jet-powered aviation. Contact Eclipse at http://www.eclipseaviation.com



Plenty of jobs and a whole new world? Trouble is Nimbus is actually some re-incarnation of a dot.com called Take-to-Auction where you bought some stuff from their warehouse and then they sold it for you across e-bay and you pocketed the difference. I should co-co!

Still you never know.... I'm buying one...

[ 24 September 2001: Message edited by: twistedenginestarter ]

swede-basher
24th Sep 2001, 20:13
TTA, even at todays stock market prices would seem to have a market cap in excess of 14 billion us, so it could be possible http://quotes.nasdaq.com/quote.dll?page=full&mode=basics&symbol=TTA%60&selected=TTA%60.

Hugh Jorgen
25th Sep 2001, 10:53
BOLLOX

The Groover
25th Sep 2001, 15:45
Next thing you'll be telling us that some guy wants to buy 44 Tristars to operate from Prestwick.
Gee, whatever next !!

TG

antonovman
26th Sep 2001, 05:43
nice one Groover
couldnt imagine anyone coming up with that one :-)

Meatbomber
26th Sep 2001, 17:09
Wow they sold 1000 vapor aircraft already ... man prolly i can get the next 1000 ;)

MB

Ontheairwaves
27th Sep 2001, 00:34
Well having spoken with many friends of mine in the US the word on the street is that YES smaller jet aircraft such as the Challanger/Citation/Learjet/Gulfstream
are all being considered for use for their executives rather than using the airlines.
The jet goes when you want it and if you are late it waits for you....
The pilots are known to you and therefore there is less chance of it being hijacked if any at all....
So as for some of your replies such as "bollox" just shows what pratts you really are..... :D :D :cool:
Executive jets are the way forward...

swanson
27th Sep 2001, 00:45
Anyone care to comment on how the air taxi service of the future will handle their security to ensure some lunatic doesn't charter the airplane only to load it with explosives and crash it into something? No one seems to want to address this and yet it would be easier than hijacking an airliner.

I have control
27th Sep 2001, 01:12
This is not "bollox". Eclipse are a very serious company, backed by very serious money, with some very serious ideas about the future of aviation.

The revolutionary thing about Eclipse compared to Challenger/Citation/Learjet/Gulfstream is the price-tag, currently under $900,000.

Take a look at their website.

The Guvnor
27th Sep 2001, 01:30
Hmmm, it's really a Microbus from Toulouse-West! Spot the sidesticks!

http://www.eclipseaviation.com/images/jet_photos/Eclipse-fulldash.jpg

Who needs a co-joe when you can use his seat as a convenient table - complete with cupholders!

http://www.eclipseaviation.com/images/jet_photos/Eclipse-CoPilotseatdown.jpg

And don't worry about carry on luggage restrictions - this baby takes it all!

http://www.eclipseaviation.com/images/jet_photos/baggage_new.jpg

Yep, the Eclipse is definitely the way to go - small, cheap to buy and cheap to operate.

Hang on - what happened to the SJ30 and the CMC Leopard? :confused: :eek: :confused:

Skylark4
27th Sep 2001, 01:40
Same idea as the Farnborough F1. F1 probably more suited to UK/Europe airfields and trip lengths.
Mike W

InitRef
27th Sep 2001, 01:55
Certainly does not seem to be vaporware - or bollox for that matter - Eclipse appear to be very well-funded.

Its not about "hiring one and crashing it" - its that numerous corporate and business travellers are losing/have lost faith in commercial carriers and the FAA's ability to provide adequate security screening. These biztravellers fear their fellow passengers more than before, and having 3-4 of their co-workers as their only co-passengers is very comforting.

Also, the price of $850k makes large volume acquisitions believable (around 30-40 for the price of a BBJ)- although there is some doubt that the E500 will actually sell for less than a million (still cheap though...)

Only problem is that Eclipse do not believe that the E500 will meet FAR Part 25 engine-out climb perf...