Post by Tomas Chlumecky (aka Aviation Doctor)

After parts supplier Resurgent Aviation Solutions (RAS) announced plans to shut down and auction off its remaining inventory, due to no buyer coming forward to keep the company going, Eclipse Aerospace assured owners of its very light jets that the company has enough supply on hand for the next two to three years. RAS president Cary Winter had warned Eclipse owners that he planned to retire in 2025 and offered the company for sale, but none of those interested were able to come to agreeable terms. One result of the livestream, according to Girgenti, is that two groups have formed to try to acquire RAS, after Winter publicly revealed a price for the company. Girgenti’s Eclipse 500 has been a reliable jet. “I never had any issues,” he said, except for a generator failure before takeoff one day. It turned out to be the generator control unit, and Eclipse shipped him one the next day. His autopilot servos are in good shape, but he’s not worried because Eclipse says it has those in stock. Despite Eclipse Aerospace’s recommendation that owners not stock their own parts, Girgenti has purchased material over the years, including electronics and systems components. One item that he worries about is the airplane’s smart pitot tubes, made by HarcoSemco. Although he hasn’t had any problems, “I would love to get rid of the smart pitot tubes. They’re expensive to overhaul.” Girgenti is happy with the service provided by Innovative Aerosystems and the company’s extended warranty program. “It’s good to know you have that coverage.” That said, one feature that he would like to see with the new avionics package is an automatic landing system like Garmin’s Autoland. “It would make my wife a lot more comfortable,” he said. “I just love this plane. It’s a marvel of engineering. I can fly from Long Island to West Palm Beach and burn 180 gallons, at 41,000 feet above the weather where it’s quiet and comfortable.”