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One Aviation has selected the Williams FJ33-5A-12 turbofan for its new EA700 “Project Canada” aircraft, marking a departure from the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW600 family that powers Canada’s predecessors, the Eclipse 500 and 550. The very-light-jet manufacturer announced the engine for the Canada during the Eclipse Jet Owners and Pilots Association (EJOPA) Annual Convention held this week at Amelia Island, Florida.
Unveiled last year, the aircraft will succeed the EA550, but offer a longer wing with two-foot extensions on each side; and more cabin volume, with a 14-inch stretch to the fuselage; and Garmin G3000 avionics.
The FJ33 engines, which can produce up to 1,900 pounds of takeoff thrust, will be de-rated to just under 1,200 pounds, provide a max-cruise-speed range in excess of 1,470 nm with NBAA 100-nm reserves. The engines have long been in production, first certified in 2004. The -5A, which also powers the Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet, was certified in 2016.
“I look forward to working with Williams and to all the possibilities the FJ33 brings to the ‘Canada’ project,” said Alan Klapmeier, CEO of One Aviation. “The additional power and efficiency of the Williams engines will once again change our customers' view of personal jet performance.”
The selection of the Williams engine is a shift from the earlier consideration of the PW615 for Canada and comes as Eclipse has been eying the potential wind-down of production of the 550, possibly as early as this year.
Klapmeier had noted that market forces and supply were weighing into the decision.
When One Aviation resumed production of Eclipse aircraft, the company was able to tap into a backlog of already developed components for P&WC PW610 engines. But the program has now run through those components, necessitating a decision about whether to restart a production line for a short time at a relatively low rate.
A discontinuation of the 550 this year would leave a gap of a year or so before Canada reaches market in late 2018 or early 2019.
One Aviation has selected the Williams FJ33-5A-12 turbofan for the EA700 “Project Canada,” marking a departure from the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW600 series that powers the Canada’s predecessors, the Eclipse EA500 and EA550. The VLJ manufacturer announced the engine for the Canada during the Eclipse Jet Owners and Pilots Association (EJOPA) Annual Convention last month.
Unveiled last year, the aircraft will succeed the EA550 and offer a longer wing with two-foot extensions on each side; more cabin volume, with a 14-inch stretch to the fuselage; and Garmin G3000 avionics.
The FJ33, which can produce up to 1,900 pounds of takeoff thrust, will be de-rated to just under 1,200 pounds and provide at least 1,470 nm range at max cruise speed with NBAA reserves (100-nm alternate). The original FJ33 was certified in 2004. The -5A, which also powers the Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet, was certified last year.
“I look forward to working with Williams and to all the possibilities the FJ33 brings to the Canada project,” said Alan Klapmeier, CEO of One Aviation. “The additional power and efficiency of the Williams engines will once again change our customers' view of personal jet performance.”
Selection of the Williams engine is a shift from the PW615, which One earlier considered for the Canada, and it comes as the aircraft manufacturer eyes ceasing production of the EA550, possibly as early as this year.