Incorrect.

Cessna has produced 454 Mustangs, Eclipse 272 500s/550s, as of 12/31/2014, per the GAMA shipment database. Using only US registrations fails to account for the large number of Mustangs operated outside the US.

As to accidents, incidents, and events, the NTSB has the following:

Mustang:

- delivery flight taped over fuel vents, collapsed wing
- bird strike, goose
- hit by tug on ramp
- runway overrun
- "damaged in flight" (Luxemburg)

Eclipse:

- inoperative flaps followed by gear up landing
- hit cars during landing (Switzerland)
- runway overrun
- fairing departed in flight
- engine runaway, followed by total power loss, dead stick landing, bad software
- rudder trim jam

Everyone is free to assess the results as they see fit, but I'd opine that the Eclipse list is larger and more concerning, more related to the aircraft design, and represents a higher rate of incidence per aircraft, per flight hour, per mile. On the Mustang, the bird strike, tug strike, and fuel vent events don't seem countable against the aircraft to me. Both types have had the seemingly required runway overrun (Phenom 100 too). The Eclipse was totaled, the Mustang is still flying.

The Midway event for the Eclipse was a fatal accident except for the very experienced and brilliant pilot. Resulted in grounding, emergency ADs.

The Luxemburg event for the Mustang is mysterious. Landed without incident but no other information that I could find. Plane is flying in US now, mostly Florida, N510PT. I'll ask around to see if anyone knows more.

Mike C.

Mike-

I'm really surprised there haven't been a lot more incidents with the Eclipse ... for a number of reasons.

Mike,
I should have know that you wouldn have the correct numbers I am surprised that there are so many foreign registered Mustangs

I just experienced another trip where the auto throttles where a big workload reducer.

So it would be my perception that the addition of auto throttles makes the Eclipse safer.

Most of the fleet hours are without autothrottles.

How have they managed so far?

Even now, the vast majority of EA500s are not AT equipped.

Mike C.

Not even a shareholder any more as reported by AIN:

The formation last week of One Aviation, the combination of Eclipse Aerospace and Kestrel Aircraft, “provided an exit strategy” for Sikorsky Aircraft, which held a “minority equity investment” in Eclipse since February 2010, One Aviation chairman Mason Holland said today at Sun ’n’ Fun 2015. “Sikorsky is no longer a shareholder,” he confirmed, adding that Eclipse also decided to bring Eclipse 550 fuselage and tail production in-house from Sikorsky subsidiary PZL Mielec.

Explaining the reasoning for the merger of Eclipse and Kestrel, One Aviation CEO Alan Klapmeier said the arrangement will allow for a “rational business structure.” As such, Eclipse and Kestrel will be able to realize several synergies, including supply chain, sales, marketing and leadership, among others.

The company will now focus on sales and marketing of the E550 very light jet, with a view to expanding beyond the owner-pilot market to include corporate aviation, air limo and ab initio and military training. Holland maintains that the Eclipse 550 is “underrated and underappreciated.” Meanwhile, One Aviation will continue work on the in-development all-composite KA350 turboprop single at its engineering center in Superior, Wis. Its service center and “skunk works” will remain in Chicago, and it also has a “presence” in Maine. Holland said One Aviation is a global company and will eventually have facilities “overseas.”

I found it amusing that their business structures were deemed irrational before this merger.

I also found it amusing that they will "now" focus on sales and marketing. What were they doing before?

I have no idea how you take two cash strapped firms and put them together such that Sikorsky can "exit". The only thing I can think of is that Sikorsky wrote off the entire investment and the merger allows some funny business on the books toward some advantage.

The whole thing smells of more Koolaid being drunk. What Holland doesn't understand is that it isn't the AIRPLANE that is problem with being "undervalued and underappreciated", it is the COMPANY behind it!

Mike C.

viewtopic.php?f=41&t=106488

Automation can lead to complacency and atrophy of skills, too.

Mike C.

viewtopic.php?f=41&t=106488

Automation can lead to complacency and atrophy of skills, too.

Mike C.

Auto throttles are handy but not a cure all.

They add another layer of " what's it doing now"

Well i sure wish my eclipse auto throttles worked but they are not needed ever. Neither does my autopilot fully BUT after flying my 84 P baron this weekend i 100% guarantee any 1/2 functional jet is better than a turboprop or piston twin regardless of upgrades. I love my eclipse!

I never hand flew my baron but doing so in my jet has made me a better pilot.

Steve
I guess I wasn't clear. Even if you don't use the auto throttles they provide envelop protection

With them off fly too slow or fast they will automatically adjust power as long as the gear is up or you don't have landing flaps

I cant even count how many times I've said that in the cockpit.

Until the airspeed sensor fails, or some other fault develops. Then the "protection" is the "endangerment". Do you have a manual override or is the computer the final authority on what power your aircraft is allowed to have?

The Midway accident was caused by similar thinking without thinking through all the consequences.

Mike C.

New Airbus pilot: "What the heck is it doing?"

Experienced Airbus pilot: "Oh, it is doing THAT again."

Mike C.

Steve
I guess I wasn't clear. Even if you don't use the auto throttles they provide envelop protection

With them off fly too slow or fast they will automatically adjust power as long as the gear is up or you don't have landing flaps

Steve,
Name 3 ways auto throttles add to confusion when they are preforming envelope protection.