Embraer has produced its first part for the $18.4 million Legacy 500 midsize business jet - a plate to which the 12-passenger twinjet's radome, radar and glideslope components will be attached.
The five-axis milling machine at the company's headquarters in São José dos Campos used information from Catia version 5, the digital manufacturing system Embraer uses for the production of metallic and composite parts. The machine cut the component from a block of aluminium alloy.
Developed in parallel with but ahead of the $15.3 million, nine-passenger Legacy 450 mid-light jet, the Legacy 500 is on schedule for first flight in the second half of 2011 and entry into service roughly one year later.
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Embraer plans to begin delivering Legacy 450s in the second half of 2013, one year behind the Legacy 500. Both feature aileron, rudder, elevator and spoiler fly-by-wire flight controls, Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics, Honeywell HTF7500E turbofan engines and BMW DesignWorksUSA-designed interiors.
Legacy 500 parts flow from vendors began several months ago with the first nose and main landing gear forgings from Canada's Heroux-Devtek, builder of landing gear structure and actuation systems for both aircraft.
USA-based Meggitt, builder of the Legacy 450 and 500 main and nose wheels, carbon brakes and brake-by-wire systems, completed the first forgings for the wheels and brakes last year. Belgium's Sonaca, provider of the rear and centre fuselage sections, has begun trials for stretching fuselage panels.
Embraer plans to begin using friction stir welding for on the two aircraft, a first for the airframer on a production aircraft.
Source: Flight International
