Great Machines: Aircraft: Barnstorming Brazilian
June 1, 2006
From the land of carnaval, capoeira, and World Cup soccer comes Embraer, the renowned Brazilian manufacturer of regional airliners, military trainers, and the Legacy business jet. The company recently entered the light jet (LJ) and very light jet (VLJ) markets with its new Phenom line of aircraft. The Phenoms offer style, high performance, spacious cabins, and a lower price point than competing LJs and VLJs, an advantage made possible in part by favorable labor costs enjoyed by the aerospace company.
The VLJ Phenom 100 is a six-seat jet with comfortable club seating for four
in the main cabin. Designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, the roomy and
comfortable main cabin includes a recessed center aisle, galley, wardrobe,
lavatory, and 55 cu ft of luggage space. Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada
PW617F turbo fan engines, the Phenom 100 will cruise at 426 mph (370 knots) with
a range of 1,160 nautical miles, plus 35 minutes of reserves.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Designed to be able to takeoff within a short distance, the Phenom
300 will enter service in mid-2009. (Click image to enlarge)
Both Phenom cockpits carry the BMW influence, designed around a
state-of-the-art Garmin 1000 avionics system and GFC 700 digital, dual-channel
flight control system, making the Phenom 100 ($2.75 million) attractive to
owner-pilots as well as to proposed “air taxi” fleet operations that have
embraced the VLJ.
The LJ Phenom 300 ($6.65 million) is a larger version of the 100. The 300
provides seating for six (four-plus-two) in its main cabin area, which includes
a galley, lavatory, and wardrobe space. The 76 cu ft luggage compartment has
room for several sets of suitcases. The 300’s Pratt & Whitney PW535E
turbofan engines produce enough power for a 518 mph (450 knots) high-speed
cruising velocity. And even with a full cabin, the 1,800-nautical-mile range
makes cross-country travel that much more tempting.
Embraer North America
954.359.5387
www.embraerexecutivejets.com
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