The UK's fifth and final Embraer Phenom 100 to have been acquired under its Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme arrived at the Royal Air Force's Cranwell base in Lincolnshire on 30 January.
Affinity Flying Services accepted the first of the Phenoms in July 2017, with the type to support the instruction of multi-engine, fixed-wing flightcrew.
Affinity Flying Services
"UK military pilots will learn the fundamentals of multi-engine flying on the Phenom before graduating onto their frontline squadron types, such as the Airbus A400M and Boeing P-8 Poseidon," Affinity says. The Brazilian-built twinjet "provides a significant step forward from previous training platforms", it adds. The RAF currently uses the outgoing Beechcraft King Air 200 in the role.
Meanwhile, Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that Affinity is close to completing its fleet of 23 G120TP Prefect elementary trainers ordered from Grob Aircraft, also in support of the MFTS programme. Nineteen of the type are now in use.
Affinity – a joint venture established by Elbit Systems UK and KBR – will also supply 10 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II basic trainers from later this year, with the type to be based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, north Wales.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
