EMBRAER’S LEGACY 450 AND LEGACY 500 PROGRAMS MOVE FORWARD

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Posted By: Marcel van Leeuwen January 25, 2010


Embraer’s midlight Legacy 450 and midsize Legacy 500 executive jet development programs continue moving full ahead. The concepts were presented at the 2007 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Annual Meeting and Convention, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. The Company maintains its unflagging commitment to developing these aircraft.
The second Man-Machine Interface (MMI) Advisory Board, formed by seasoned pilots and aircraft owners from around the world, was held at Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil, in the second half of 2009. The majority of the Board’s previous suggestions were implemented in the final projects of the jets, confirming Embraer’s commitment to design aircraft that meet market demands. As a result of one of the suggestions, the Company now offers a broader range of finishing materials. Guided by six different thematic panels, customers can select the interior configuration that best matches their interests, from among millions of possible combinations.

 

During the MMI meeting, the Audio and Video Cabin Management System (AV/CMS) – Honeywell’s Ovation ®  Select™ Full Digital, Hi-Definition, Hi-Fidelity, Hi-Speed Cabin Connection Suite – had its graphical user interface tested in a “Voice of Customer” session, which was dedicated to learning the board’s impressions regarding the system’s functionality and appearance. 

Various manufacturing processes are in the testing phase. Quality and maturity tests are also being conducted to evaluate the aircraft equipment under critical flight situations, such as vibration and high altitude. Extreme conditions are simulated in advanced testing chambers at supplier and Embraer facilities. This procedure will ensure that certain part designs are already mature when the prototypes begin their test flights. Embraer steadily advances in the development of avionics and fly-by-wire flight control systems. Rigs are used to simulate the features of the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusionâ„¢ avionics, as well as the aircraft flight control system. Through the use of computational flight simulation, fly-by-wire control laws are tested and verified by pilots and engineers well before any airplane prototype is built.
Production has begun on the Legacy 500’s first parts. The nose and main landing gear forgings arrived at Heroux-Devtek, in Canada and began to be machined. Meggitt performed the first forgings for the wheels and brakes. Belgium’s Sonaca began the first trials for stretching the rear fuselage panels at its facilities in the city of Gosselies. The selection of suppliers continues.

Embraer’s commitment to the environment is built into the design of the Legacy 450 and the Legacy 500. The aircraft will comply with worldwide certification limits for aviation noise and emissions, as established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP), and with very significant margins.

The certification process is well underway with Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil – ANAC), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S., and the European Aviation Safety Association (EASA).

 

About the Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 executive jets

Based on concepts presented in 2007 and formally launched in 2008, the midlight Legacy 450 and midsize Legacy 500 set new paradigms in their respective executive jet categories. Their interiors  were designed in partnership with BMW Group DesignworksUSA, and offer unequaled comfort and style. These aircraft will have the largest and quietest cabin in their classes. A flat-floor standup (6-foot) cabin, excellent pressurization, and vacuum lavatories are other highlights of the Legacy 450 and Legacy 500, complementing their superior performance and low operating costs.

The new-generation Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion™ avionics system will provide extensive situational awareness with a highly intuitive interface. Honeywell’s HTF7500E stateof- the-art engines incorporate the latest technologies for meeting performance requirements with improved efficiency, in terms of fuel consumption, facilitated maintenance, low operating costs, and reduced noise and pollution emissions. The jets will be the fastest in their categories and the only ones equipped with cutting-edge fly-by-wire electronic flight controls that increase operating safety and passenger comfort, while reducing pilot workload and fuel consumption.

The Legacy 450 is designed to carry up to nine passengers. Its range will be 2,300 nautical miles (4,260 km) with four passengers, or 2,200 nautical miles (4,070 km) with eight passengers, and Mach 0.78, both including NBAA IFR fuel reserves, meaning the jet will be able to fly nonstop from London (U.K.) to Moscow (Russia) or Rabat (Morocco); from Delhi (India) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) or Hong Kong; or from Jakarta (Indonesia) to Calcutta (India).

 

The Legacy 500 will carry up to nine passengers. It is designed for a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,560 km) with four passengers, or 2,800 nautical miles (5,190 km) with eight passengers, and Mach 0.80, both including NBAA IFR fuel reserves. These characteristics will allow customers to fly nonstop from New York to Los Angeles, in the U.S.; or from Moscow (Russia) to Mumbai (India).

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