Although it can technically sell Mustangs now, Pelton said first customer deliveries aren’t scheduled until next year. Assuming Eclipse’s full certification is approved in the near future, it will likely be the first to get a VLJ into service. The Wichita Eagle said Eclipse announced in July that it would deliver 50 airplanes by the end of the year. Eclipse spokesman Andrew Broom told the Eagle that number may be revised (whether that’s upward or downward isn’t clear). Cessna intends to deliver 50 Mustangs in 2007 and 100 in 2008. Cessna is projecting much more modest sales figures for the Mustang than Eclipse is for the 500. The order book for the Mustang is about 250 while Eclipse claims to have more than 2,500 orders. The Mustang, at $2.6 million, is also substantially more expensive than the Eclipse, at about $1.4 million.
Mustang Deliveries Begin In 2007
Key Takeaways:
- Cessna's Mustang, priced at $2.6 million, has an order book of about 250 and is scheduled for first customer deliveries next year, with plans for 50 deliveries in 2007 and 100 in 2008.
- Eclipse's 500, significantly more affordable at about $1.4 million, claims over 2,500 orders and aims to deliver 50 airplanes by the end of the year, potentially being the first Very Light Jet (VLJ) in service.
- There is a notable disparity in projected sales volume and pricing between the Cessna Mustang and the Eclipse 500 in the competitive VLJ market.
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