Embraer’s Phenomenal First Flight
Officials from Embraer’s executive jet division were all smiles at AirVenture when they received word that the Phenom 100 very light jet made a one hour 36 minute first flight in Brazil. Aircraft S/N 99801 became airborne on Thursday at 10:55 a.m. local time, piloted by Embraer test pilot Antonio Bragana Silva and Eduardo Alves Menini. “This is a key milestone for Embraer,” Embraer President and CEO Frederico Fleury Curado said. “When we unveiled the Phenom jets a little more than two years ago, we asserted to the business aviation community our commitment to be a long term player in the executive aviation market. The first flight of the Phenom 100 confirms this commitment.” The flight crew, accompanied by flight test engineer Marcelo Toledo Basile, checked out the aircrafts flight characteristics and systems operations. According to Embraer executive jets vice president Luis Carlos Affonso, during the flight the Phenom 100 reached 15,000 feet and the gear remained extended, which is not at all uncommon on a maiden jaunt.
Officials from Embraer's executive jet division were all smiles at AirVenture when they received word that the Phenom 100 very light jet made a one hour 36 minute first flight in Brazil. Aircraft S/N 99801 became airborne on Thursday at 10:55 a.m. local time, piloted by Embraer test pilot Antonio Bragana Silva and Eduardo Alves Menini. "This is a key milestone for Embraer," Embraer President and CEO Frederico Fleury Curado said. "When we unveiled the Phenom jets a little more than two years ago, we asserted to the business aviation community our commitment to be a long term player in the executive aviation market. The first flight of the Phenom 100 confirms this commitment." The flight crew, accompanied by flight test engineer Marcelo Toledo Basile, checked out the aircrafts flight characteristics and systems operations. According to Embraer executive jets vice president Luis Carlos Affonso, during the flight the Phenom 100 reached 15,000 feet and the gear remained extended, which is not at all uncommon on a maiden jaunt.
Four aircraft will participate in the Phenom 100 flight-test program, and Affonso said the second airplane is expected to join the test fleet in another month or two. Brazilian and U.S. certification is expected next summer for the $3.4 million VLJ, with deliveries planned to start immediately afterward. Meanwhile, Affonso said the Phenom 300 -- a $6.75 million stretch derivate of the Phenom 100 -- is on track for first flight next year and certification in 2009. Combined orders for the Phenom 100 and 300 has swelled to more than 450 aircraft, with the airplanes' backlog extending into 2011 and early 2012, respectively.
