I must say it was Airventure 1998 and the new 6 seat jet for $835,000 was announced.  I was flying high in business, the dotcom boom was in full swing and everyone was ready to buy.  Well the eclipse did get built, props to Van Rayburn for getting it done.  Unfortunately like much of the rest of our current economic melt down, Eclipse felt the pressure of not only the economy, but some things done wrong compounding their situation.

I must say it was a sad day for me when I realize that my best hope for a ‘personal’ jet died the day Eclipse when into liquidation, but according to a recent article in AviationWeek my hope to someday own and fly an eclipse jet may be back on the horizon!

Me with Pre-Production Eclipse July 2006

Above is me at Mineral Wells Airport with an Eclipse Undergoing Autopilot testing pre-certification.