EJ22 Turbofan Engine Achieves First Flight; Breakthrough Engine Will Power the Eclipse 500 Jet, an Aircraft Poised to Enable Affordable, Private Jet Travel

Business Wire, June 5, 2002

Business Editors

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2002

Eclipse Aviation Corporation, manufacturer of the Eclipse 500 jet, today announced that on May 30, 2002, the EJ22 turbofan engine successfully completed its first flight. Performing flawlessly, the EJ22 flew for approximately 50 minutes mounted onto its flying test bed, a modified Saberliner Model 60.

The EJ22 is being developed exclusively for Eclipse Aviation by Williams International of Walled Lake, Michigan. Two EJ22 engines will power the next-generation Eclipse 500 jet. Each engine weighs approximately 85 lbs. and produces 770 lbs. of thrust, the highest thrust-to-weight ratio of any commercial turbofan ever produced.

"This is truly a momentous occasion," said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. "We congratulate and applaud the people of Williams International for this great achievement. Together, each day we draw closer to realizing our dream of changing the way people travel."

In this maiden flight, the EJ22 completed the entire flight envelope planned for the first flight of the Eclipse 500 jet, scheduled to occur later this summer.

The flying test bed was designed to test the capabilities of the EJ22 in flight including FADEC software development, relight characteristics and operating envelope. EJ22 testing on the flying test bed will continue for several months through which valuable information about the characteristics of the engine will continue to be collected, even after the inaugural flight of the Eclipse 500 jet.

The EJ22 is the commercial version of the FJX-2 technology demonstration engine that Williams International developed jointly with NASA's General Aviation Propulsion program.

About Williams International

Williams International is the world leader in the development and manufacture of small gas turbine engine technology. The privately owned company is headquartered in Walled Lake, Michigan. A second facility, located in Ogden, Utah, is dedicated to high-volume production and is one of the most modern and efficient gas turbine manufacturing facility in the world. Contact Williams International at http://www.williams-int.com.

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.

Eclipse and Eclipse 500 are trademarks of Eclipse Aviation Corporation.