|
Embraer Promises Exceptional Value
As Legacy Makes Its American Debut
Embraer, the upstart South American that's emerged as the world's
fourth-largest airframer and Brazil's biggest exporter, is another
company that planned and planned for NBAA in September, and must
now settle for a more modest event.
Embraer had been close to securing FAA permission for a rare if
not unprecedented fly-by of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center,
over the Mississippi River, to dramatize the first public showing
of its new Legacy business jet. But history intervened, and the
airplane has since been shown at the Dubai Air Show, and at BAB
2001, a new business aircraft gathering in Brazil (Embraer claims
a dozen Brazilian orders for Legacy, six of them firm).
So while Embraer is telling its story here, it's doing so in somewhat
less spectacular fashion.
It is still a good yarn. The up-to-19-passenger Legacy, now billed
as "the business jet for the new economy," competes
with the $32 million Gulfstream IV, Embraer says, yet costs just
$19.8 million, complete with Nordam interior. It's making its
U.S. debut here.
Embraer claims 44 firm orders and 48 options on the new jet, for
which certification was a matter of "any day now" on
the eve of this week's NBAA meeting. Plans for Legacy, a derivative
of the EMB-135/145 regional jet, with extra fuel tanks for extra
range, were unveiled at Britain's Farnborough Air Show a year
and a half ago.
The aircraft can fly New York-London non-stop and New York-São
Paulo with one stop, notes Embraer president and CEO Maurício
Botelho-just like a G-IV. Range is stated at 3,220 nautical miles,
as compared with about 3,990 for the G-IVSP.
Legacy's long-range cruise speed is 425 knots versus 459 knots
for the G-IV. That's about 7% slower for an aircraft that costs
about 40% less. Net cabin length is just two feet less than the
G-IVSP-but at 39 feet is almost 13 feet, or nearly half again
as long, as the $21.13 million Falcon 2000. Interior volume of
1,410 cubic feet is said to be 60% greater than competing super
mid-size jets. "We are providing a lot of value," Botelho
says.
Legacy's interior is by Oklahoma's Nordam. About a dozen Nordam
engineers and technicians were dispatched to Brazil this past
summer to help Embraer complete the first Legacy interior in time
for the NBAA show that was postponed until this week.
Nordam's interiors and structures group has devised four basic
Legacy cabin arrangements, ranging from 13 to 15 places (Legacy
jet in corporate shuttle configuration will be able to accommodate
as many as 19 passengers).
The aircraft on display here has a flat-floor cabin. A full-size
cabin mock-up shows the available recessed aisle with increased
headroom configuration. Nordam's general design includes a large
forward galley and aft lavatory, with access via the lav to a
240-cubic-foot baggage compartment.
Nordam has specified Bomhoff cabinets and BE Aerospace seats for
the Legacy. Various suppliers will continue to support Embraer
as the aircraft moves into regular production.
Legacy will have a Flight Environments acoustic package, and Baker
cabin management with individual lighting and entertainment system
controls. There will be a range of options for onboard business
communications.
Legacy has twin Rolls-Royce AE3007 engines, with FADEC. The shuttle
version has 7,426-pounds-thrust AE 3007-A1/3s, and the executive
version has 7,057-pounds-thrust AE 3007-A1Ps. Legacy features
Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics, and TCAS and enhanced GPWS are
fitted as standard. Hamilton Sundstrand provides the APU.
Swift Aviation of Sky Harbor International in Phoenix is the lead
Legacy customer, committing to 25 firm and taking options on 25
more.
Embraer said prior to September 11 that it's prepared to boost
Legacy output to four aircraft per month if demand warrants. The
company could turn out even more, Botelho told Show News, as Legacy
is based on an aircraft family with 500 units already in service,
and 800 more on order.
By Rich Piellisch
|
