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Originally Posted by wheelsup  Haven't we heard that before? I can't quite put my finger on it...
eclipse...originally $850k, now at $1.5 mil... |
It is a lot cheaper to make a single engine jet that is only certified to FL250, than it is to make a twin jet that can fly in the upper flight levels. It is usually also easier for an existing manufacturer to certify an airplane once they have done it before, than to try to design an aircraft and start a new company all at once. Also don't forget than many of the problems Eclipse had early on was because they chose an engine that just didn't work. When they went with a bigger engine, they had to redesign much of the aircraft. This added time and cost. Cirrus will probably have an easier time, since the engines are already developed, and the avionics (G1000) are proven.