Embraer Promises Exceptional Value As Legacy Makes Its American Debut

The Legacy made its international debut in Dubai, where it attracted the crowds.

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