The first Legacy 500 midsize business jet
assembled at Embraer's industrial facilities in Melbourne, Florida has completed
its maiden flight, just eight months after its stablemate, the Legacy 450
mid-light jet.
The aircraft performed as expected and all
flight test procedures were successfully completed.
“We are very pleased with yet another
milestone for the Legacy 500 and we look forward to delivering the aircraft in
the third quarter,” said Michael
Amalfitano, President & CEO, Embraer
Executive Jets. “This flight also marks a key milestone for our Melbourne
operations, where we expanded our production facility and doubled our
footprint.”
The Legacy 500 is the fourth business jet
model to be assembled at the Company’s Melbourne facility, where the Legacy 450
is also produced, alongside the Phenom 100 and Phenom 300. The Legacy 450 and
Legacy 500 are also manufactured at Embraer’s production facilities in São José
dos Campos, Brazil.
Embraer began its Melbourne aircraft assembly
operations in early 2011 with the entry-level Phenom 100, followed by the Phenom
300 in August 2012, the Legacy 450 in June 2016, and the Legacy 500 in January
2017. Over the last seven years, the Company has delivered close to 250 Phenom
and Legacy jets, valued at about US$ 2 billion, from its Melbourne facility to
customers across the U.S. and to countries as close as Mexico and Canada, and as
far as China and Australia. |