Embraer says its new E2 family of jets is on track to make its maiden flight in the second half of 2016 after the first E190-E2 rolled out of the company’s Sao Jose dos Campos facility in Brazil overnight (Australian time).
The rollout ceremony was attended by thousands of invited guests, media, suppliers and company employees.
Powered by two Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower geared turbofan engines, the E190-E2 also features new aerodynamically advanced, high-aspect ratio, distinctively shaped wings, improved systems and avionics, including fourth generation full fly-by-wire flight controls.
The raft of improvements were expected to result in double-digit reductions in fuel and maintenance costs compared with the current E-jet family. From an environmental perspective, the new aircraft will also produce less emissions and less noise.
The E2 family of jets features three models – the E175-E2 which seats 80-90 passengers, the E190-E2 (97-114 seats) and the E195-E2 (120-144 seats). The aircraft will also have a new interior with larger overhead bins and a new first class concept, among other interior improvements.
The first E190-E2 will be one of four aircraft used in the certification program, with flight tests expected to start by August and entry into service expected in 2018. Two more flight test aircraft will be added for the E195-E2 (entry into service 2019) and a further three frames for the E175-E2 (entry into service 2020).
Our second generation of commercial aircraft came to be part of the Embraer's history of innovation. #E2RollOut pic.twitter.com/0Ye8V3n6Gh
— Embraer (@embraer) February 25, 2016
“The rollout held today marks the completion of the assembly of the first E190-E2 and paves the way for the start of the tests that will lead to the first flight,” Embraer Commercial Aviation senior vice president for operations Luís Carlos Affonso said in a statement.
“We are delighted to reach this phase of the program, considering all of the technical and economic objectives set out at its inception.”
Since it was launched at the Paris Airshow in 2013, the E2 has secured 267 firm orders and 373 options and purchase rights, Embraer said. The current E-jets are flown by about 70 customers in 50 countries, including Airnorth, Cobham, Jetgo and Virgin Australia in this part of the world.
A full scale mockup of the cabin interior was recently on display at the Singapore Airshow, and also visited Australia in April 2015.
The Leeham News and Comment website posted a video of the rollout ceremony on Youtube, which can be seen below:
