Mr. Crandall said the jury was still out on the Eclipse plane and he has yet to order any. Nevertheless, Eclipse, which has received more than $500 million in investment, including an undisclosed sum from Microsoft’s founder, Bill Gates, has received contracts to build 2,500 aircraft for a total of $3.5 billion in sales, an order book big enough to keep the company busy through late 2008, said Vern Raburn, Eclipse’s chief executive. Mr. Raburn, an early employee at Microsoft, is a friend of Mr. Gates.

Among the first to put the Eclipse into service will be Linear Air, founded in 2004 by Mr. Herp, an entrepreneur. His airline started as a charter service, flying wealthy travelers to Martha’s Vineyard from Boston and New York in Cessna turboprop planes. The company now also markets its services to small teams from consulting firms and other businesses who need to travel together to see clients or visit remote offices or factories. Because of the Eclipse’s faster speed, Mr. Herp said it made sense for him to expand his airline to Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“Eclipse is the game in town right now,” said Mr. Herp, speaking from the Albuquerque airport last week after visiting Eclipse’s production plant, where the company is assembling the first 10 Eclipse 500’s. Mr. Herp was enthusiastic about how Eclipse’s production was automated, unlike the more time-consuming construction methods used to make other private jets, and about how Eclipse, for the moment, had three production shifts running around the clock, seven days a week.

Other makers are rolling out planes that could also compete for a slice of the air taxi market. Adam Aircraft, based in Englewood, Colo., is awaiting federal certification for its A700, a six-passenger light jet (or five with a bathroom) that costs $2.25 million. Embraer Air’s four-passenger Phenom, which costs $2.85 million, is expected in 2008. And on Tuesday Honda, after years of study, announced that it would build a six-seat jet with a top speed rivaling that of the Eclipse.

But not everyone believes that the Eclipse and other very light jets awaiting government approval will be able to establish a new aviation niche. And some analysts are skeptical about whether there is enough demand to justify hundreds, if not thousands, of new flying limousines.

Image Employees at Eclipse Aviations factory in Albuquerque working last Thursday to complete the companys first commercial order. Credit... Rick Scibelli Jr. for The New York Times

“This is one of the most promising aviation markets in years,” said Richard Aboulafia, an analyst at the Teal Group. “But are the economics of these new planes revolutionary compared to what is out there? Absolutely not.”