Embraer Legacy 450 Wings Its Way To Europe

Embraer’s flight-test Legacy 450 landed here at Geneva International Airport on Sunday afternoon, marking the midsize jet’s debut in Europe. The airplane–flown by company test pilot William Souza and demonstration pilot Rafael Menezes Ricardo–made the journey from the company’s base in São José dos Campos, Brazil, in 12 hours 36 minutes, stopping for fuel at Recife International Airport in Brazil, Amílcar Cabral International Airport on Sal Island, Cape Verde, and Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport in Spain.

It is on static display this week at EBACE, flanked by the rest of the company’s product line, which includes the Phenom 100 and 300, Legacy 500 and 650 and Lineage 1000. “The Legacy 450 and the Legacy 500, which will be presented together for the first time at EBACE, break paradigms in business aviation, offering premium comfort with a standup cabin, flat floor and outstanding performance,” said Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Marco Túlio Pellegrini.

“The Legacy 450 has the largest cabin in its class and is the first jet in its category to replace conventional controls with digital full fly-by-wire technology,” he added. “This aircraft is a flawless combination of technology and design, which defies every definition of a mid-light jet.”

Meanwhile, Legacy 450 program is on schedule, with its entry into service expected in the fourth quarter. According to Pellegrini, the twinjet is performing very similarly to its larger sibling, the Legacy 500, which was certified last year and shares more than 90-percent commonality with the Legacy 450.