Embraer's Phenom 100 jet, the new entry of the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer in the very light jet segment, flew today for the first time. Aircraft number 99801 was airborne at 10:55 a.m., when Capt. Antonio Bragança Silva called out "rotate" and pulled back the yoke.
"This is a key milestone for Embraer and a very special and rewarding moment for the entire Embraer team. To see our new baby bird taking off is highly satisfying and I congratulate every Embraer employee for making this possible," remarked Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President and CEO.
"When we unveiled the Phenom jets a little more than two years ago, we asserted to the business aviation community our commitment to be a long-term player in the executive aviation market. The first flight of the Phenom 100 confirms this commitment and constitutes another step in Embraer's strategy to serve our customers with a product line that spans the market."
Upon deplaning from the Phenom 100, test pilots Capt. Antonio Bragança Silva and Capt. Eduardo Alves Menini, together flight test engineer Marcelo Toledo Basile said they were satisfied with the maiden flight.
"We had a successful first flight. All maneuvers and tests were performed as planned," said Capt. Bragança. "We were very impressed with the Phenom 100 performance and flying characteristics, as well as the exceptional comfort and ergonomics of its cockpit design."
PP-XPH was flown for 1 hour and 36 minutes, and several maneuvers were performed to check the aircraft's flight characteristics and systems operations. Members of all the engineering teams involved in the Phenom 100 program were on the ground, analyzing flight data and supporting the test crew on board the jet.
According to Embraer, the two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F engines, each with 1,615 pounds of thrust powering the Phenom 100, operated flawlessly during the entire flight.
The first flight was preceded by several weeks of ground tests. The results confirmed the Phenom 100's operations throughout ground vibration, flight control, low and high-speed taxiing, and systems functionality and integration tests.
A full test program, including static and fatigue tests, will follow the maiden flight in order to obtain Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) certification, which will be followed by FAA certification, prior to entering service in mid-2008. EASA certification will be completed in the first half of 2009.
The Phenom 100 was launched in May 2005, as a best-in-class executive jet in the very light category. The first metal cut of the Phenom 100 took place in May 2006, using a digital mock-up of the aircraft developed with CATIA V5 engineering software.
Sub-assembly manufacturing of the Phenom 100 was carried out at the Company's Botucatu, Brazil facility. Upon completion, fuselage and wings were delivered to Embraer's main facilities in São José dos Campos.
Last June 16, the jet was rolled out of the hangar, marking the conclusion of final assembly. A few days after the rollout, on June 21, the Phenom 100 was presented in brand colors for the first time.
