Eclipse Aviation expects to deliver its first Eclipse 500 jet in Europe in the autumn. Some 2,400 of the very light jets (VLJs) are on order with first deliveries being made in the United States home market.

But Matt Brown, aircraft sales manager, said: "About 15 per cent of our sales are going overseas." He anticipated that initial delivery of the VLJs in Europe would be at the rate of one every two months but that this would accelerate. Earliest delivery date for new orders was currently August 2008.

Eclipse Aviation began production of the VLJ in Gainesville, Florida in April. The facility will be completed early in 2007 and will form part of a network of seven US factory service centres dedicated to Eclipse maintenance and support.

This month Eclipse announced that the test fleet has built up over 1,700 total flight hours on the path to FAA certification with 700 of these hours being accumulated in the last three months.

Vern Raburn, president and ceo, said: "Certification is progressing exceptionally well. The Eclipse 500 test fleet consists of seven aircraft - five for flight, one static test airframe and one fatigue airframe."

Eclipse is committed to meeting Stage 4 aircraft noise standards but Raburn says it is exceeding this target.