Eclipse Aviation History

Eclipse Aviation was founded 10 years ago by former Microsoft employee Vern Raburn.

What started off as a small operation in Scottsdale, Ariz. soon grew into an 1,800 employee business with locations in Albuquerque, Gainesville, Fl. and Albany, N.Y.

Eclipse Aviation had a big year in 2006 when they received federal certification to begin manufacturing the Eclipse 500, a very light jet.

At the time, Raburn said the company had orders for 2,500 jets.

"It means we're in business now," said Raburn. "That we'll be able to start delivering customers airplanes, that we'll really be able to ramp up the production line and that we've moved out of the developmental stage and into being an actual company."

By the beginning of 2008, the company had manufactured 100 planes, a feat Eclipse said was faster than any other general aviation jet aircraft maker in history.

But Eclipse has also hit some recent turbulence.

Plane deliveries were delayed, production moved slowly and the company faced dwindling funds.

Eclipse laid off about 150 temporary workers last October, but there was also good news. Earlier this year, the company rehired the positions it cut and announced the addition of 700 jobs throughout 2008.

Nearly three months ago, two Eclipse pilots were forced to make emergency landings due to an uncontrollable acceleration in the plane's engines.

That led to the Federal Aviation Administration ordering emergency inspections on all Eclipse jet throttles.

While the jets have been cleared, the FAA is also ordering an unusual 30-day review of its Eclipse 500 very light jet airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration. A congressional hearing is also scheduled for Sept. 17.

Eclipse also got an influx of money when a European company invested more than $100 million.

This summer, however, Eclipse founder and CEO Raburn cut ties with the company after leaving the top spot and the company again cut almost 200 temporary jobs.

Eclipse still has a backlog of 2,300 jets that have already been ordered. The jet maker's customers want to know whether they will get the planes that they have asked to be built.