Eclipse hit its proposed roll-out milestone in ûJuly 2002. But after a single flight, Williams ûEJ22 engines proved unsuitable.

To a degree, every new airplane introduction is the industrial equivalent of a carnival shell game. Projections are offered, promises are made, potential customers are soothed with upscale promo and given the “opportunity” to buy-in early at a reduced price. And then everyone holds their collective breath, wondering if an airplane will appear before the company burns through its seed cash.

Upstart Eclipse Aviation seemed to have all but mastered this high-wire act until early December 2002, when rumors about shortfalls in engine thrust were confirmed and the company announced that it had fired its engine supplier, Williams International. Williams had developed the EJ22 lightweight turbofan that was critical to the…