Embraer is making strides on the KC-390 tactical transport and tanker programme, with the first prototype scheduled to make its maiden sortie by year-end.
“The airplane is becoming real,” said Paulo Gastão, vice-president of the KC-390 programme in a Farnborough briefing.
The fuselage of the first prototype is progressing through final assembly, says Silva, and both wings have now been placed into the tooling in preparation for joining to the fuselage.
A second prototype has also started the assembly process at Embraer’s Gaviao Peixoto facility in Brazil.
Delivery of the first aircraft to its launch customer the Brazilian air force is anticipated in the second half of 2016, says Silva.
Unlike other military transport aircraft, the International Aero Engines V2500-powered KC-390 will have no depot-level maintenance requirements. Instead, its maintenance regime will be aligned to that of a civilian airliner, with a one-day A-check to take place every 600h, and more comprehensive C-checks due every 10 years.
Brazil’s air force is the lead customer for the type with an order for 28 examples. Colombia, Chile, Portugal, Argentina and the Czech Republic have also committed to buy 32 KC-390s between them.
Source: Flight Daily News
