Story ID: 
Second Embraer 175 flies
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: The second Embraer 175 prototype flew its maiden mission on August 7, marking the resumption of a comparatively short flight-test program scheduled to last
Word Count: 180
The second Embraer 175 prototype flew its maiden mission on August 7, marking the resumption of a comparatively short flight-test program scheduled to last into next year’s third quarter. The airplane took off from Embraer’s São José dos Campos assembly plant at 11 a.m. local time for a one-hour flight, during which crewmembers Guilherme de Miranda Cara, Carlos Moreira Chester and Carlos Masaki Kobayashi performed a range of systems and validation tests. Featuring a 70-inch-longer fuselage than the 170, the Embraer 175 offers some 10 percent more seating and cargo capacity while it shares a common type rating, cockpit, engines and, according to Embraer, nearly identical flying qualities. Originally slated for first delivery to India’s Jet Airways by next year’s third quarter, the Embraer 175 finds itself unattached again after the Indian airline suspended plans to convert an MOU for 10 airplanes into a firm order. Embraer nevertheless expects to begin deliveries next year, most likely to current Embraer 170 customer US Airways, which has alluded to plans for converting half of its firm orders for the 70-seat jets to positions on 175s.