Phenom 100 Nears Final Assembly; 300 Model Will Be Longer

Representatives with Brazilian planemaker Embraer tell ANN final assembly of the first Phenom 100 executive jet continues to progress toward first flight at mid-year, while work continues on schedule on the larger Phenom 300 twinjet.

Wing and fuselage assemblies for the second preproduction Phenom 100 aircraft were assembled at the Botucatu plant and have arrived at Embraer’s main facilities in São José dos Campos to begin final assembly. Components of a third Phenom 100 are being pre-assembled in Botucatu.

As Aero-News reported, the mating of the wings and fuselage of the first Phenom 100 occurred in late March. Airspeed measurment equipment, oxygen, hydraulic, electric, fuel and deicing systems have been installed. Flight test instrumentation, cockpit consoles and panels, landing gear, brakes, tires, and lateral windows have also been installed on the aircraft.

The Phenom 100 will be Embraer's first aircraft to sport composite construction for major assemblies -- namely, the vertical fin and the horizontal stabilizer. About 20 percent of the Phenom 100's structural weight consists of composite material parts, according to the planemaker.

In April, both PW617F engines were installed on the first Phenom 100. Engine testing continues as Pratt & Whitney Canada’s facilities, with over 900 hours of testing, of which more than 180 in flight and over 230 in endurance tests.

The first power-on test for the first Phenom 100 was successfully performed on May 9.

A Longer Phenom 300

Meanwhile, the largest Phenom jet will be even bigger than originally planned. Embraer is extending the cabin of the Phenom 300 executive jet by 14 inches in length, resulting in another 15 cubic feet of space (0.42 cubic meters).

"The cabin expansion maintains the Phenom 300's key design drivers, increasing its premium comfort and preserving its outstanding performance," said Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President, Executive Jets. "We are pleased to introduce this enhancement without impacting the Phenom 300's very competitive price and performance."

Embraer says the Phenom 300 "cabin amplification" provides greater passenger leg room and reclining space for seats and augments interior seating arrangements. Single and double-seat divans and an expanded galley have been added to the furnishing options.

The manufacturer says wind tunnel test results show the fuselage extension does not compromise the aircraft's performance characteristics.

A full-scale mock-up of the Phenom 300 with the expanded cabin and interior enhancements will be displayed at EBACE 2007, in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 22 to 24.

FMI: www.embraer.com