Embraer on 21 December completed first flight of its third Phenom 100, one of four very light jets (VLJs) that will take part in the certification and maturity program for the aircraft.
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F-powered twinjet was the first to be completed at the Brazilian manufacturer’s new Phenom final assembly facility at Gavião Peixoto, also the site of the first flight. The aircraft, outfitted with an interior that was designed in partnership with BMW DesignworksUSA, will be used primarily for interior function and reliability tests.
Embraer says the fourth Phenom 100 is now in final assembly and will be used for 600h of "maturity" tests in various weather conditions to ensure all issues have been uncovered when the first customer aircraft is delivered. The company has said a fifth aircraft will also be built and used as a marketing demonstrator. Non-flying full-scale test articles have also been constructed for static and fatigue testing.
Certification of the Phenom 100 is planned for mid-2008 with the three test aircraft accumulating an estimated 1,200h of flying, 300h of which will be for function and reliability testing. Embraer says the first two flight-test aircraft have accumulated more than 250h on more than 260 flights. Recently completed tests include performance, flying qualities, flutter, water ingestion and artificial icing.
Embraer also reports that the first fuselage of the Phenom 300 light jet is complete and the first pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E engines have arrived and will be ready for installation once the wing and fuselage have been mated. The company plans to fly the aircraft mid-year.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
