Read this story in our December 2018 printed issue.
Embraer has been awarded certificates by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI)
for speed records set this year by its Phenom 300, Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 business jets.
The Phenom 300 flight went from Melbourne, Florida, to Boston, Massachusetts, on 21 April and lasted two hours and 38 minutes. According to the NAA, the jet reached an average speed of 366 kts, covering a distance of 964 nm and landing with 2,000 lb of fuel reserves. It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E engines with 3,360 lbf of thrust each, a top speed of 452 kts and a range of 1,971 nm with six occupants.
A Legacy 450 transatlantic crossing from Portland, Maine, to Farnborough, UK, on 7 March lasted six hours and five minutes while covering a distance of 2,752 nm. It achieved an average speed of 452 kts, landing with 2,300 lb of fuel reserves. It is powered by two Honeywell HTF 7500E engines with 6,540 lbf of thrust each, a top speed of 546 kts and a range of 2,900 nm with four passengers.
The Legacy 500 set four new speed records over the US, the first between Melbourne, Florida, and Seattle, Washington, on 28 January when it achieved an average speed of 392 kts during a flight lasting five hours and 44 minutes, covering a distance of 2,257 nm and landing with 2,400 lb of fuel reserves.
The second happened on the same day between Seattle, Washington, and Anchorage, Alaska, and lasted three hours and three minutes, covering a distance of 1,252 nm and landing with 6,860 lb of fuel reserves. Average speed was 409 kts.
The third occurred on 25 March between Aspen, Colorado and Orlando, Florida. The flight lasted three hours and 16 minutes, covered a distance of 1,423 nm and landed with 2,490 lb of fuel reserves. An average speed of 437 kts was achieved.
The fourth Legacy 500 flight took place on 30 March between Melbourne, Florida, and Youngstown, Ohio, and lasted one hour and 52 minutes, covered a distance of 790 nm and landed with 6,860 lb of fuel reserves. Average speed was 424 kts. The aircraft is powered by two Honeywell HTF 7500E engines with 7,036 lbf of thrust each, a top speed of 546 kts and a range of 3,125 nm with four passengers.
All flights were completed with NBAA IRF fuel reserves.
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