Embraer Notches 32 Orders
for New Legacy Business Jet

Embraer has announced 32 orders and 31 options for the Legacy, a 3,200 mile range, corporate variant of its successful ERJ-135 regional jetliner. Initial Brazilian CTA certification of the 12 to 15 passenger, executive aircraft is scheduled for August 2001, with FAA certification to follow in September and JAA certification in October. Considering the aircraft was officially launched in July 2000 and it made its first flight on March 31, 2001, this is indeed a rapid development schedule.

The first customer delivery to launch customer SwiftAir is slated for September, with seven or eight additional deliveries before the end of the year. Embraer has the capacity to increase production to four aircraft per month, if customer demand increases. Government transport and corporate shuttle versions of the Legacy with 19 to 30 seats also will be offered. Embraer will complete the aircraft in-house to eliminate the risk of outside completion center delays.

Legacy has a 1,410 cubic foot interior volume with 325 cubic feet of internal luggage space, enabling Embraer to claim they offer the largest cabin business jet for less than $20-million. The aircraft's uprated, FADEC-equipped, Rolls-Royce A3007 engines each produce 7,426 lb thrust for take off to ISA+30°C. Fitted with winglets that improve take off, climb and cruise performance by at least five percent, Legacy has an initial cruise altitude of FL 390, even when departing at its 48,479 lb MTOW. Supplemental fuel tanks in the lower fuselage add 6,381 lb, boosting total fuel capacity to 17,702 lb, thereby increasing its ten passenger range to 3,200 nm with NBAA IFR reserves. The long range cruise speed is .74 Mach, equivalent to 425 KTAS on a standard day. At its normal cruise speed of .78 Mach, equivalent to 447 KTAS on a standard day, the maximum range decreases less than four percent.

Other features include a full complement of Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics, with five, large format CRT displays, dual Laseref IRS, dual NZ-2000 FMS with GPS sensors and dual Primus II CNS radio systems, along with standard TCAS and Enhanced GPWS. Legacy's standard package also includes a Hamilton-Sundstrand APU, dual air cycle machines, a brake-by-wire system and a standard cabin entertainment system.