Embraer is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, with Farnborough seeing the airshow debut of its new flagship regional jet the Embraer 190.
The 100-seat Embraer 190 will perform a daily flying display, while its sister aircraft the Embraer 170, in Alitalia Express colours, and the Legacy executive jet will be in the static park.
The Embraer 190 is the third member of the Brazilian manufacturer's family of four commercial regional jets aimed at the 70-110 seat market. As of March, the Embraer 170/190 family had logged 273 firm orders with 347 options.
Jetblue of the USA has 100 Embraer 190 aircraft with an undisclosed operator having ordered a further 10. The aircraft has also attracted 150 options.
The first model - the largest commercial aircraft ever built in Brazil - was rolled out early this year before an audience of VIPs headed by Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
After the first flight of aircraft S/N 0001 on 12 March (a 2.45h mission), three additional aircraft are being readied to join the flight test and certification campaign. This is due for completion in the third quarter of 2005 followed by first deliveries to Jetblue.
The aircraft, with its "double bubble" cross-section, seats 100 passengers in a four abreast 32in (810mm) pitch cabin, or 108 in a higher density configuration at 31in pitch.
Embraer says the aircraft's cross-section delivers more passenger comfort because of maximised cabin width at shoulder level, a wider aisle, larger seats and higher baggage capacity.
With a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.82, the aircraft has a range of 2,200nm (4,074km).
Fly-by-wire
The aircraft is powered by twin under-wing General Electric CF34-10E engines, controlled by redundant Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). The Embraer 190, like other members of the family, also features fly-by-wire technology for the flight control systems.
The second Embraer 190 made its maiden flight, a 2.10h mission, and successfully performed a series of systems validation tests.
"The first flight of the second Embraer 190 went extremely well and all system validation tests were conducted successfully," says Jose Mauro Fernandes Calheiros, Embraer flight test pilot-in-command.
"Above all we were truly impressed with the new CF34-10E engine and the common flight characteristics of the aircraft. We predict that pilots around the world will find this a remarkable aircraft to fly."
Also at Farnborough is the pioneer model of the regional jet family, the Embraer 170. The 70-seat aircraft is currently flying in the livery of Alitalia Express, LOT Polish Airlines and US Airways Express.
The Legacy super-midsize business aircraft is also here. It features new state-of-the-art interior, as well as several systems and performance enhancements. It is on show in the new exhibit zone dedicated to business aircraft.
MIKE MARTIN
Source: Flight Daily News
