The two-hour maiden flight of the E190-E2 fourth prototype took place at Embraer’s São José dos Campos facility. This aircraft will be used for interior tests such as cabin evacuation, environmental comfort and internal noise.
The aircraft, serial number 20.004, will join the flight-test fleet, comprised of the first three E190-E2 prototypes, which combined, have accumulated more than 650 flight hours to date. The first E190-E2 jet is on schedule to be delivered in the first half of 2018 and the launch operator will be Widerøe, the largest Norwegian regional airline.
“In terms of the certification campaign, Embraer has already frozen the aerodynamic configuration and concluded many tests such as flying qualities assessment, short field takeoff and landing, climb performance, in-flight thrust determination, landing gear stability and other systems tests. Shortly we will do high speed flying qualities, flutter, natural ice and cold soak tests,” explains Luís Carlos Affonso, COO, Embraer Commercial Aviation.
Besides the flight test campaign, Embraer is performing more than 30,000 hours of ground tests as well as integration analysis. The company uses an Iron Bird, where all aircraft systems are available in full scale, including the cockpit for delivering a more mature airplane upon entry into service. This tool enables Embraer to simulate flights of each E2 model and to optimise systems performance and improve flight qualities.
