Engine Mounting For Larger 300 Expected Soon

Just in time for the holidays, Embraer updated ANN on the progress of the Brazilian planemaker's light-jet program.

The third Phenom 100 jet took its first flight Friday from the test runway at the Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility, outstate São Paulo, Brazil. The aircraft will join the flight test campaign, performing interior function and reliability tests.

The jet -- the first to be completed in the newly-inaugurated hangar at the same site -- will be outfitted with the interior designed in partnership with BMW DesignworksUSA. The fourth aircraft is in the final assembly stage and will be used in the Phenom 100 maturity campaign.

"The Phenom 100 flight test campaign has accrued over 250 hours on more than 260 flights," said Henrique Langenegger, Embraer Vice President, Programs - Executive Jets. "The aircraft dispatch reliability has been excellent, showing that all investments made in product maturity were worthwhile."

As ANN reported, the first Phenom 100 flew July 27. The test program now include three Phenom 100 jets, which have recently completed performance, flying qualities, flutter, water ingestion, and artificial ice tests.

As the Phenom 100 progresses, Embraer also announced the first fuselage for the larger Phenom 300 is also ready. The first pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E engines has arrived at Embraer for installation on the jet, once the wing-fuselage mating occurs.

Final assembly of the Phenom 300 will take place in the new Phenom production hangar at the Gavião Peixoto facility.

FMI: www.embraer.com