Embraer Legacy 500

EMB-550 Legacy 500
EMB-545 Legacy 450
Legacy 500 in flight, landing gear extended
Role Business jet
National origin Brazil
Manufacturer Embraer
First flight 500 : 27 November 2012
450 : 28 December 2013
Introduction 500 : 11 October 2014
Status In Service
Produced 500 : 2011-present
Number built delivered at end of 2015 :[1]
500 : 23, 450 : 3
Unit cost
500 : US$ 20 million[2]
450 : US$16.57 million[2]

The Embraer Legacy 500/450 (EMB-550/EMB-545) are mid-size business jets launched by Embraer in April 2008, the first of their size with a flat-floor stand-up cabin and fly-by-wire. The longer 500, which typically carries 4 passengers over 3,125 nmi (5,790 km) with room for up to 12, first flew on November 27, 2012, and was certified on August 12, 2014. The shorter 450 first flew on December 28, 2013, was certified on August 11, 2015, carries 4 passengers over 2,900 nmi (5,370 km) and can accommodate up to 9.

Design and development

Cockpit with 4 large MFD and sidesticks

At the August 2007 NBAA convention, Embraer unveiled a cabin mock-up of two concepts positioned between the $7 million Phenom 300 and the $26 million Legacy 600, called midsize jet (MSJ) and midlight jet (MLJ), positioned on 22% of the market in units. They should share their flat floor, stand-up cabin but the MSJ should be 5 feet longer to accommodate 8 passengers over a 2,800-nm range against 2,200-nm for the smaller version.[3]

The program was introduced in April 2008, Embraer planned to invest US$750 million and to introduce the larger model in 2012 and the smaller in 2013. Honeywell HTF7500E turbofans were selected along a Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite integrated cockpit and a Parker Hannifin fly-by-wire flight control system.[4] At the May 2008 European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, the larger was named Legacy 500 and priced at $18.4 million and the smaller Legacy 450, priced at $15.25 million.[5][6] The variants have 95% systems commonality.[7]

They are low wing, T-tail airplanes with cabin pressurization, powered by two rear mounted turbofans. The landing gear is fully retractable and designed to be operated on paved runways only. The glass cockpit includes four multi-function display. The operation is made through a flight management system with autopilot, autothrottle and closed-loop control and monitoring of flight controls Fly-By-Wire. The aircraft are certified for Day, Night, VFR and IFR flights, and are approved for reduced vertical separation minima (RVSM) airspace and flight into known icing conditions, extended flight over water, Category II ILS, operations at high altitude airports up to 13800 ft and steep approach operations.[8]

An assembly line was officially opened in Melbourne, Florida on 2 June 2016, adding Embraer Legacy 450 and 500 production to the existing Phenom 100 and 300 line, along a completion center/flight-prep building. The first Legacy 450 on the line since May 16 should be delivered in mid-December. The facility will be able to assemble up to 96 Phenoms and 72 Legacys annually.[9] More than 30 jets were in service in June 2016.[10]

Embraer offers an enhanced flight vision system constituted by the Rockwell Collins HGS-3500 Head-up display combined with the EVS-3000 Infrared camera, permitting a decision altitude necessitating visual references of 100 ft above touchdown at a projected price of $515,000. Federal Aviation Administration's draft AC 20-167A further proposes a descent below 100 ft if the required visual references can be observed using the EFVS, similar to Cat II and III approaches with limited instrument landing systems in many small airports.[11]

Variants

EMB-550 Legacy 500

Legacy 500 on ramp

Embraer's timeline was delayed because software development for the fly-by-wire flight control system was running behind schedule.[12] Supported by 800 engineers, the first Legacy 500 prototype (PT-ZEX) was rolled out on 23 December 2011 to begin ground testing and systems evaluation, prior to the aircraft’s first flight scheduled for the third quarter of 2012.[13][14] The first engine run was completed on January 17, 2012. [15][16]

The aircraft's first flight occurred on 27 November 2012 with certification and initial deliveries expected in early 2014.[17] After 1,800 hours of flight tests and 20,000 hours of laboratory tests, its type certificate was received from National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC) on August 12, 2014, exceeding design goals.[18] First delivery occurred to a Brazilian company on October 11, 2014.[19][20] It received its Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) certification on October 21, 2014.[21] Delivery of the 50th Legacy 500 is expected in the third quarter of 2016.[10]

The Legacy 500 can be configured to carry up to 12 passengers, and can carry eight passengers over 2,948 nautical miles (5,460 km), or four passengers over 3,125 nautical miles (5,788 km).[22] The aircraft fly-by-wire control enhances safety and confort.[23][24] It competes with midsize jets like the $17.9 million Cessna Citation Sovereign+ and $23.4 million Cessna Citation X,[2] but also with super-midsize $24 million Gulfstream G280 and $26 million Bombardier Challenger 350 and can be compared with the halted $21 million Learjet 85 program.[25]

EMB-545 Legacy 450

The Legacy 450 first flight occurred on 28 December 2013.[26] It received its Brazilian certification on 11 August 2015, exceeding its design goals.[27][28] It was certified by the FAA shortly after on 31 August 2015.[29] Its fuselage is shortened by 4 feet (122 cm) and it has a flight life of 27,500 flight hours.[30] It competes with the $16.25 million Cessna Citation Latitude and the $17.9 million Cessna Citation Sovereign.[2] In July 2016, its certified range was extended to 2,904 nm (5,378 km), 329 nm (609 km) more than previously,[31] and it is designed to carry 7 to 9 passengers.[32]

Deliveries [1]
Model 2014 2015
Legacy 500 3 20
Legacy 450 - 3

Specifications

model Legacy 450[32] Legacy 500[22]
crew 2
Capacity 7-9 passengers 8-12 passengers
Baggage Capacity 150 cu.ft / 4.25 cu.m 155 cu.ft / 4.39 cu.m
Length 64 ft 7 in / 19.69 m 68 ft 1 in / 20.74 m
Height 21 ft 1 in / 6.43 m 21 ft 2 in / 6.44 m
Wingspan 66 ft 5 in / 20.25 m
wing area 432 sq ft (40.1 m2)[30] 432 sq ft (40.1 m2)[33]
basic operating weight 22,928 lb (10,400 kg)[30] 23,437 lb (10,631 kg)[2]
Maximum Payload 2,921 lb / 1,325 kg 2,800 lb / 1,270 kg
full fuel payload[2] 1,600 lb (726 kg) 1,600 lb (726 kg)
Max Zero Fuel Weight[8] 11,750 kg (25,904 lb) 12,020 kg (26,500 lb)
Max Landing Weight[8] 14,750 kg (32,518 lb) 15,660 kg (34,524 lb)
MTOW[8] 16,000 kg (35,274 lb) 17,400 kg (38,360 lb)
fuel capacity[34] 10,939 lb (4962 kg)
option : 12,940 lb (5870 kg)
13,146 lb (5963 kg)
Cabin altitude 6,000 ft (1,800 m)
Cabin height 6 ft (183 cm)
Cabin width 6 ft 10 in (208 cm)
Cabin length 24 ft (7.3 m) 26 ft 10 in (8.2 m)
Turbofan×2 Honeywell HTF7500E
thrust 6,540 lbf (29.1 kN) (ISA + 18 °C) 7,036 lbf (31.3 kN) (ISA + 18 °C)
max speed Mach 0.83
high cruise speed 462 kn (856 km/h) 466 kt / 863 km/h
stall speed 104 kn (193 km/h)[30]
minimum control speed 142 kn (263 km/h)[30]
Range† 2,900 nm / 5,371 km 3,125 nm / 5,788 km
ceiling 45,000 ft / 13,716 m
time to climb 43,000 ft. in 21 min 43,000 ft. in 22 min[18]
wing loading 82 lb/sq ft (400 kg/m2) 88 lb/sq ft (430 kg/m2)
Take-off distance † 3,907 ft / 1,191 m 4,084 ft / 1,245 m
Landing Distance† 2,090 ft / 637 m 2,122 ft / 647 m
Hourly LRC fuel burn 213 US Gal (806 l)[35] 236 US Gal (893 l)[36]

† MTOW, 4 pax, NBAA IFR reserves, 200 nm alternate, SL, ISA

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. 1 2 "2015 General Aviation Statistical Databook & 2016 Industry Outlook" (PDF). General Aviation Manufacturers Association. 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Business Airplane Tables" (PDF). aviation week. May 2015.
  3. Curt Epstein (September 26, 2007). "Embraer unveils concepts for two new midsize aircraft". Aviation International News.
  4. "Embraer announces embraer MSJ and embraer MLJ executive jets" (Press release). Embraer. April 8, 2008.
  5. "Embraer renames MLJ/MSJ as Legacy 450/500 – announces launch schedule". domain-b.com. 22 May 2008.
  6. "Embraer's Legacy 500". Business Jet Traveler. December 2, 2011.
  7. "Embraer Makes Progress On New 'Mid' Offerings". Aviation Week & Space Technology. 14 October 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Operational evaluation report" (PDF). ANAC. February 22, 2016.
  9. Chad Trautvetter (June 2, 2016). "Embraer Starts Legacy 450/500 Production in U.S.". Aviation International News.
  10. 1 2 "Embraer opens Legacy final assembly facility in Melbourne". Flight International. 8 June 2016.
  11. "Embraer's vision enhancer shows great promise". Flight Global. 16 August 2016.
  12. "NBAA: Embraer faces Legacy 500 fly-by-wire delays". Flight International. October 11, 2011.
  13. "Embraer Rolls Out Legacy 500 Executive Jet" (Press release). Embraer. December 26, 2011.
  14. "Embraer Rolls Out First Legacy 500". Aviation International News. January 3, 2012.
  15. "First Engine Run For The Legacy 500" (Press release). Embraer. February 6, 2012.
  16. "Embraer completes first engine run on Legacy 500 business jet". Flight International. February 13, 2012.
  17. "Embraer Legacy 500 Makes 'Flawless' First Flight". Aviation International News. November 27, 2012.
  18. 1 2 "Legacy 500 Executive Jet awarded Brazilian certification" (Press release). Embraer. August 12, 2014.
  19. "Embraer delivers first Legacy 500 Executive Jet" (Press release). Embraer. Oct 10, 2014.
  20. "Embraer delivers Legacy 500 to launch customer". Flight International. 10 October 2014.
  21. "NBAA: Embraer Legacy 500 cleared for US flights". Flight International. 22 October 2014.
  22. 1 2 "Legacy 500 Brochure" (PDF). Embraer.
  23. Goyer, Robert (2 February 2015). "We Fly: Embraer Legacy 500". Flying (magazine).
  24. Matt Thurber (June 29, 2015). "Pilot Report: Embraer Legacy 500". Aviation International News.
  25. "Embraer Legacy 500 Versus the World: Comparison Specs". Flying (magazine). February 3, 2015.
  26. "Embraer Executive Jets debuts Legacy 450 at EBACE 2015" (Press release). Embraer. 16 May 2015.
  27. "Embraer's Legacy 450 Executive Jet awarded Brazilian certification" (Press release). Embraer. 11 August 2015.
  28. "Embraer Legacy 450 Wins Brazilian Approval". Aviation International News. 11 August 2015.
  29. "Embraer's Legacy 450 Jet Now FAA-Certified". AVweb. 31 August 2015.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 "Embraer Legacy 450 Pilot Report" (PDF). Business & Commercial Aviation. Sep 28, 2015.
  31. "Embraer's Legacy 450 certified for 2,904 nm range" (Press release). Embraer. July 12, 2016.
  32. 1 2 "Legacy 450 Brochure" (PDF). Embraer.
  33. Fred George (May 1, 2014). "Pilot Report: Legacy 500". Business & Commercial Aviation.
  34. "Type Certificate Data Sheet" (PDF). FAA. May 11, 2016.
  35. "Legacy 450 performance". Embraer.
  36. "Legacy 500 performance". Embraer.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Embraer Legacy 500.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/24/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.