EBACE Show News - May 22, 2008 - (Page 21)

EBACE 2008 ‘Yes, there are gaps,’ says Luís Carlos Affonso, intimating that even more Enbraer models are in the works. Embraer Line Is Filling Out, It Likely Will Fill Out More Embraer marched further toward its goal of capturing up to 25% of the business jet market with the unveiling here of the names and prices of its two latest models, known until now as the Midlight Jet (MLJ) and the Midsize Jet (MSJ). The smaller MSJ now will be known as the Legacy 450, and the MSJ as the Legacy 500, with introductory list pricing of $15.25 million and $18.4 million, respectively. The model numbers fit between Embraer’s Phenom 300 light jet and large-cabin Legacy 600. Asked why these particular numbers were chosen instead of, for example, 400 and 550, Embraer’s evp for executive jetsLuís Carlos Affonso replied: “Yes, there are gaps there. At the moment I cannot say anything about those, but there are spaces.” Embraer has taken at least 100 letters of interest for the new models, whose prices will likely rise in the not too distant future. “The fact that the prices are introductory suggests they will probably go up,” Affonso said. Embraer is developing no fewer than five business jets, spanning the spectrum from the Phenom 100 very light jet to the ultra-large cabin, E-190 airliner-based Lineage 1000. Four Phenom 100s are in flight test, the first Phenom 300 has flown, the 450 and 500 have been launched and the first Lineage 1000 should be delivered later this year. The Brazilian company is investing well over $1 billion in its determination to be a major player in business aviation. Its spending includes: • $235 million to develop the Phenom 100 and 300 aircraft; • $750 million to develop the Legacy 450 and 500 aircraft; • $100 million on customer support facilities worldwide to be ready for the Phenom 100’s entry into service later this year; • $51 million to build a customer center and assembly plant in Melbourne, Florida. “In 2005 we said we would make this business important for our growth and diversification,” said Affonso. “To be a big player is what we meant, and we are putting our money where our mouth is.” Affonso said Embraer intends to have a continuous flow of new products. “This year the Lineage 1000 will be finished, as well as the Phenom 100. And next year we will be finishing the current developments (the Phenom 300) before starting the new Legacies. So 2008 and 2009 are very important years. We will phase the programs with one very strong advantage of having 4,500 engineers” who will flow from one program to the next. Orders for the Phenom 100 and 300 now stand at more than 750 aircraft, Affonso said, and more than 20 Lineage 1000s have been sold. Demand for the Lineage is greater than Embraer had expected: it originally intended to produce three to four a year, but now is looking at up to six per year to prevent the backlogs extending too far into the future. —John Morris Stratos Seeks Funding for Next Stratum Now that many of the big boys have muscled tenth of the funding needed to gain certificainto the personal or very light jet business, there tion,” noted Lemaire, “and when we can point is less latitude for smaller and start-up compato an aircraft flying, it will be easier to get backnies to compete. Undeterred is Michael Lemaire, ers for the next stage.” CEO of Stratos Aircraft, who is at Booth 891 this With a 3,030-pounds-thrust Williams FJ44-3AP week to seek development partners for the in the center fuselage fed through a bifurcated Stratos 714, a ‘clean-sheet’ mono-jet optimized air intake, the Stratos 714 will reach FL 350 in for transporting four passengers over 1,500 nmi 17 minutes from takeoff and cruise at up to at 400 kts. FL 410 with a 6,000-ft equivalent cabin pressure. “VLJs have generated a high level of anticSwap two passengers for more fuel and its ipation among potential buyers but have fallen range—still at 400 kts—is increased to 2,050 nmi. Stall will take place at 63 kts. short of the performance expectations,” Given immediate launch funding, the 714 Lemaire told Show News. “The Stratos 714 offers the next step up from four/five-seat, procould be flying in two years, with a certified ver—Paul Jackson peller-driven aircraft, whether piston or turbine. sion ready in five. We are, essentially, offering business jet performance in a smaller aircraft.” Say that Stratos is based in Bend, Oregon, and it will be immediately realized that this is a carbon fiber aircraft. Although designed from the outset for certification, the 714 will be offered initially as an experimental-category kitplane, in very much the same way that Epic has brought its certified aircraft to market. “To achieve the kit stage requires only a Given the cash, Stratos 714 could be certified in five years. www.aviationweek.com/shownews May 22, 2008 21 http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EBACE Show News - May 22, 2008

EBAA Bestows Awards Honeywell APUs Gain DayJet Not Hurting Eclipse Airbus Cabins in China Lisa Flies Its Akoya Single P&WC Service Boosts AMAC Aerospace Debuts FirstCall Telemedicine First Lineage to Prestige The TBM 850 is All New A Far Larger DC Aviation Midcoast for Falcon Work Tailwind Offers CRJ200 Jet Aviation for Utah

EBACE Show News - May 22, 2008

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