N508JA

This entry documents airframe N508JA, the factory-first production unit of the Eclipse EA500 completed in 2006 with serial number 000001. The aircraft is registered in the United States and is owned by individual CALVIN STOLTZFUS, based in Great Falls, Montana, where it has been operated from a local base for owner-operator missions. The airframe’s provenance as serial 000001 marks it as the earliest production EA500, a fact occasionally noted in registry summaries and enthusiast histories. Valuation and public condition descriptors list the airframe around $1,500,000, reflecting both its age and equipment complement.

The aircraft is typically outfitted in an executive four- to six-place layout suitable for club or forward seating in owner-operator missions, with limited baggage capacity of approximately 16 cubic feet. Production EA500s commonly carry the Avio (IS&S) or Avio NG integrated avionics suite, and this airframe is described with that typical fit, supporting single-pilot IFR operation and modern glass-cockpit systems. Typical mission profiles for this owner-operated airframe concentrate on short- to medium-range cross-country travel from Great Falls and the surrounding region, exploiting the type’s speed and high-altitude capability. Maintenance and operational planning for this specific EA500 would reflect its twin PW610F-A powerplants and modest baggage volume, plus considerations tied to a first-production serial that may have undergone early-series modifications or updates.

The Eclipse EA500 family occupies the very light jet niche with a focus on owner-operators seeking jet performance at lower acquisition and operating costs compared with larger light jets. With a cruise near 335 knots and a ceiling above 40,000 feet, the type competes against other VLJs and small light jets for short to mid-range missions. Market demand for individual-owner EA500s is influenced by avionics upgrades, engine support status, and the airframe’s age; resale and maintenance considerations for serial 000001 include provenance interest balanced against lifecycle and retrofit needs typical of a 2006 production aircraft.