Aircraft

Dual Phenom 300s in Embraer flight test stable

By John Croft

Embraer completed first flight of its second of Phenom 300 light business jet flight test aircraft on 5 August in Brazil, slightly more than three months after its first production conforming prototype lifted off for the first time in late April. The company will ultimately build three certification and one maturity aircraft enroute to a planned second-half 2009 certification of the $6.65 million Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E-powered twin-jet.

The first Phenom 300 finished its ground vibration test in early June, and is now going through performance checks to define its final aerodynamic configuration, says Embraer. The third and fourth conforming aircraft are currently in the assembly and pre-assembly stages.

©Embraer Embraer flew the second Phenom 300 on 5 August

Meanwhile Embraer president and CEO Frederico Fleury Curado last week said deliveries of 10-15 Phenom 100 very light jets remain on tap for this year, with certification of the $2.98 million aircraft on schedule for September or October.