Phenom 100 Nears Final Assembly; 300 Model Will Be Longer
Representatives with
Brazilian planemaker Embraer tell ANN final assembly of the first
Phenom 100 executive jet continues to progress toward first flight
at mid-year, while work continues on schedule on the larger Phenom
300 twinjet.
Wing and fuselage assemblies for the second preproduction Phenom
100 aircraft were assembled at the Botucatu plant and have arrived
at Embraer’s main facilities in São José dos
Campos to begin final assembly. Components of a third Phenom 100
are being pre-assembled in Botucatu.
As Aero-News reported, the
mating of the wings and fuselage of the first Phenom 100 occurred
in late March. Airspeed measurment equipment, oxygen, hydraulic,
electric, fuel and deicing systems have been installed. Flight test
instrumentation, cockpit consoles and panels, landing gear, brakes,
tires, and lateral windows have also been installed on the
aircraft.
The Phenom 100 will be Embraer's first aircraft to sport
composite construction for major assemblies -- namely, the vertical
fin and the horizontal stabilizer. About 20 percent of the Phenom
100's structural weight consists of composite material parts,
according to the planemaker.
In April, both PW617F engines were installed on the first Phenom
100. Engine testing continues as Pratt & Whitney Canada’s
facilities, with over 900 hours of testing, of which more than 180
in flight and over 230 in endurance tests.
The first power-on test for the first Phenom 100 was
successfully performed on May 9.
A Longer Phenom 300
Meanwhile, the largest
Phenom jet will be even bigger than originally planned. Embraer is
extending the cabin of the Phenom 300 executive jet by 14 inches in
length, resulting in another 15 cubic feet of space (0.42 cubic
meters).
"The cabin expansion maintains the Phenom 300's key design
drivers, increasing its premium comfort and preserving its
outstanding performance," said Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer
Executive Vice President, Executive Jets. "We are pleased to
introduce this enhancement without impacting the Phenom 300's very
competitive price and performance."
Embraer says the Phenom 300 "cabin amplification" provides
greater passenger leg room and reclining space for seats and
augments interior seating arrangements. Single and double-seat
divans and an expanded galley have been added to the furnishing
options.
The manufacturer says wind tunnel test results show the fuselage
extension does not compromise the aircraft's performance
characteristics.
A full-scale mock-up of the Phenom 300 with the expanded cabin
and interior enhancements will be displayed at EBACE 2007, in
Geneva, Switzerland, from May 22 to 24.