Embraer today successfully carried out the first flight of the new military transport and aerial refueling jet, the KC-390.
Test pilots Mozart Louzada and Marcos Salgado de Oliveira Lima and flight test engineers Raphael Lima and Roberto Becker flew the aircraft for 1 hour and 25 minutes, conducting an evaluation of flying qualities and performance.
The KC-390 will be the backbone of Brazilian Air Force transport fleet with 28 aircraft.
KC-390 has a length of 35.2 m, a wingspan of 35.02 m and height of 11.84 m.
With a maximum concentrated payload capacity of 26 metric ton or 23 metric ton for distributed load, the aircraft can cruise at 470 knots (0.80 mach) and has a operational altitude of 36,000 ft (cabin altitude pressurisation 8,000 ft).
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The range with 23 metric ton payload is 1,380 nm. Max. Take off weight is 81 tons.
It can carry either 80 soldiers, or 66 paratroopers, or 74 stretches, or
seven 463L type pallets, or 3 Humvee, or a Blackhawk helicopter.
Powered by two IAE V2500-E5 engine, rated at 31,330 pounds of thrust each, the new generation airlifter is designed to perform a wide range of missions including transport and airdropping of cargo and troops, aerial refueling, search and rescue, and forest fire response.
Major features Rockwell Collin's Pro Line Fusion integrated avionics system, Self-Protection Suite (SPS), Directional Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) and a Cobham refuelling receiver probes above cockpit for inflight refueling.
The air conditioning system, the cabin pressure control system, engine bleed system components, wing anti-ice system components and the integrated air management system controller were developed and manufactured by Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS.
The aircraft is scheduled for 2016 entry into service.
In 2014, Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force signed the serial production contract for the delivery of 28 KC-390 aircraft and initial logistic support.
Embraer said it has received purchase intentions from five countries including Argentina, Chile, for a total of 32 aircraft.
