Embraer officially entered the mid-size business jet market Tuesday with Brazilian certification of its Legacy 500. The aircraft was announced six years ago at the 2008 European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) and the certification was announced on the opening day of the Latin American Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (LABACE), which opened Tuesday in Sao Paulo. FAA and EASA certification is expected in the next few weeks. Production is underway and the first delivery of a Legacy 500 will happen in September.
The Legacy 500 uses a fly-by-wire control system and will carry up to 12 passengers. Range, with four passengers aboard, is 3,125 nm, 125 nm farther than the design goal. It also beat the design goals on takeoff distance (by 516 feet), landing distance, fuel consumption and high-speed cruise. It’s powered by Honeywell HTF7500E engines.
