The Eclipse EA-500 is a light jet aircraft manufactured by Eclipse Aviation. It is a single-engine, six-seat aircraft with a range of 1,125 nautical miles. The aircraft was first introduced in 2006, and production was discontinued in 2008 due to financial difficulties.

Eclipse Aviation was founded in 1998 with the goal of making aircraft more affordable and accessible to the public. The company was planning to produce an affordable light jet aircraft, and the EA-500 was the result of this effort. The aircraft was designed to be an affordable jet, with a price tag of $1.52 million.

The aircraft was designed with innovations in mind. It featured advanced avionics and a fly-by-wire system that was designed to make the aircraft easier to fly and to reduce pilot workload. In addition, the aircraft was designed to be fuel-efficient, thanks to its light weight and efficient engine.

The aircraft has been popular with corporate and private pilots, but has not been as popular with commercial airlines due to its limited range. It is mainly used for short-haul flights, such as those between cities in the same region.

Overall, the aircraft has had a good safety record. It has been involved in a few accidents, but these have generally been attributed to pilot error or mechanical failure, rather than design flaws.

The aircraft has also been praised for its advanced avionics and innovative technology. It was the first aircraft to use a fly-by-wire system and the first to have an integrated avionics suite. These features make it easier to fly, as well as more reliable and efficient.

The Eclipse EA-500 is a unique aircraft, as it is one of the few light jets in production. Its combination of affordability, advanced technology, and reliable performance makes it a popular choice for pilots. Despite its high price tag, the aircraft has been praised for its value and has been a successful product for Eclipse Aviation.