Legacy 450/Praetor 500 Legacy 500/Praetor 600 | |
---|---|
Legacy 500 in flight, landing gear extended | |
Role | Business jet |
National origin | Brazil |
Manufacturer | Embraer |
First flight | 500 : 27 November 2012 450 : 28 December 2013 |
Introduction | 500 : 11 October 2014 |
Status | In Service |
Primary users | Flexjet AirSprint NetJets |
Produced | 500 : 2011-present |
Number built | 251 Praetor 500 : 42 (as of 26 April 2023 [update] ) Praetor 600 : 71 (as of 26 April 2023 [update] ) Legacy 500 : 80 (as of 26 April 2023 [update] ) Legacy 450 : 58 (as of 26 April 2023 [update] ) |
The Embraer Legacy 450/500 and Praetor 500/600 are a family of mid-size and super mid-size business jets built by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer. The aircraft family was launched with the Legacy 500 in April 2008 and were the first jets in the size category to feature a flat-floor stand-up cabin and fly-by-wire.
The Legacy 500, with a range of 3,125 nautical miles [nmi] (5,790 km; 3,600 mi) and room for up to 12 passengers, first flew on November 27, 2012, and was certified on August 12, 2014. The shorter Legacy 450 first flew on December 28, 2013, was certified on August 11, 2015, has a range of 2,900 nmi (5,370 km; 3,340 mi), and can accommodate up to 9.
The Praetor 500 and 600 are improvements of the Legacy 450 and 500, respectively, introduced in October 2018 offering more range. The Praetor 600 has a range of 4,018 nmi (7,440 km; 4,620 mi), while the Praetor 500 has a range of 3,340 nmi (6,190 km; 3,840 mi).
At the August 2007 National Business Aviation Association convention, Embraer unveiled a cabin mock-up of two concepts positioned between the $7 million Phenom 300 and the $26 million Legacy 600, called midsize jet (MSJ) and mid-light jet (MLJ), positioned on 22% of the market in units. The proposed aircraft share their flat floor, and stand-up cabin but the MSJ should be 5 feet longer to accommodate 8 passengers over a 2,800 nmi (5,200 km; 3,200 mi) range against 2,200 nmi (4,100 km; 2,500 mi) for the smaller version. [1]
The program was introduced in April 2008, Embraer planned to invest US$750 million and to introduce the larger model in 2012 and the smaller in 2013. Honeywell HTF7500E turbofans were selected along a Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite integrated cockpit and a Parker Hannifin fly-by-wire flight control system. [2] At the May 2008 European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, the larger was named Legacy 500 priced at $18.4 million and the smaller Legacy 450, priced at $15.25 million. [3] [4] The variants have 95% systems commonality. [5]
An assembly line was officially opened in Melbourne, Florida on 2 June 2016, adding Embraer Legacy 450 and 500 production to the existing Phenom 100 and 300 line, along a completion center/flight-prep building. The first Legacy 450 on the line since May 16 should be delivered in mid-December. The facility will be able to assemble up to 96 Phenoms and 72 Legacys annually. [6] The first Legacy 450 produced in Florida was delivered in December 2016; the fuselage is built in Botucatu in Brazil, and the wings in Évora, Portugal. [7] The first Legacy 500 entered final assembly in January 2017 and was flown in July. [8] Embraer will eventually move most of its Legacy 450/500 production in Florida but has not set up a schedule yet. [9]
Embraer introduced improved variants at the October 2018 NBAA convention, the Praetor 500 and 600, presented on display, with 3,250 nmi (6,020 km; 3,740 mi) and 3,900 nmi (7,200 km; 4,500 mi) of range; the 600 was expected to be certified in the second quarter of 2019 and the 500 in the third quarter of 2019. [10] Both have 22 by 50 in (56 by 127 cm) taller and wider winglets. The $17 million Praetor 500 boosts the fuel capacity of the Legacy 450 from 12,108 to 13,058 lb (5,492 to 5,923 kg) to match the Legacy 500. The $21 million Praetor 600 is based on the Legacy 500 with two tanks on the fuselage belly for 2,928 lb (1,328 kg) more fuel for a 15,986 lb (7,251 kg) capacity, and more powerful 7,528 lbf (33.49 kN) HTF7500E engines. [11]
Praetor 600 flight testing began on 31 March 2018 and 300h were logged with three aircraft by October 2018, while the Praetor 500 flight tests began on 13 September 2018 with 80h accumulated. [12] The synthetic vision system has a flight guidance system for CAT I airports approach with SBAS, allowing decision height to be reduced from 200 to 150 ft (61 to 46 m). [13] Within US SBAS zones, the synthetic vision guidance system (SVGS) allows autopilot-flown instrument approaches down to 150 ft (46 m) height and 1,300 ft (400 m) RVR without the optional Rockwell Collins EVS and HUD. [14]
Previous Legacy 450s can be upgraded to the Praetor 500 configuration for $500,000. For the higher thrust Praetor 600, Honeywell maintenance plans increases to $294 per engine per hour. Active load alleviation deflects both ailerons upward at 2.0 Gs to prevent overstressing the wing without adding structural weight. [15] At FL410, ISA-7°C to -14°C and Mach 0.77 (442 kn; 818 km/h) cruise, the Praetor 600 burns 1,760 lb (800 kg) of fuel per hour at a weight of 40,500 lb (18,400 kg), increasing to 1,800 to 1,900 lb (820 to 860 kg) at Mach 0.794 (455 kn; 843 km/h) max cruise. [16]
The Praetor 600 was certified by the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil by April 2019. [17] Its range with four passengers and NBAA IFR reserves reached 4,018 nmi (7,441 km; 4,624 mi) from a 4,436 ft (1,352 m) take-off, and 3,719 nmi (6,887 km; 4,280 mi) at Mach 0.80. [18] European and US certification were secured by May. [19] The first delivery, to a European customer, happened on 28 June 2019. [20]
The Praetor 500 received its Brazilian type certificate in August, achieving a 3,340 nautical miles (6,186 km) range, 466 kn (863 km/h) high-speed cruise, a takeoff within 4,222 ft (1,287 m) and a landing within 2,086 ft (636 m). [21]
This was followed by the EASA and FAA approval by the end of September. [22]
On 23 December, the first was delivered to fractional operator Flexjet, two months after signing for 64 jets, including Praetor 500/600s and light Phenom 300Es. [23]
In 2023, the equipped price of the Praetor 500 was $18.995M, and $21.995M for the 600. [24]
They are low wing, T-tail airplanes with cabin pressurization, powered by two rear mounted turbofans. The landing gear is fully retractable and designed to be operated on paved runways only. The glass cockpit includes four multi-function displays. The operation is made through a flight management system with autopilot, autothrottle and closed-loop control and monitoring of flight controls Fly-By-Wire. The aircraft are certified for Day, Night, VFR and IFR flights, and are approved for reduced vertical separation minima (RVSM) airspace and flight into known icing conditions, extended flight over water, Category II ILS, operations at high altitude airports up to 13800 ft and steep approach operations. [25]
Embraer offers an enhanced flight vision system constituted by the Rockwell Collins HGS-3500 Head-up display combined with the EVS-3000 Infrared camera, permitting a decision altitude necessitating visual references of 100 ft above touchdown at a projected price of $515,000. Federal Aviation Administration's draft AC 20-167A further proposes a descent below 100 ft if the required visual references can be observed using the EFVS, similar to Cat II and III approaches with limited instrument landing systems in many small airports. [26]
Embraer's timeline was delayed because software development for the fly-by-wire flight control system was running behind schedule. [27] Supported by 800 engineers, the first Legacy 500 prototype (PT-ZEX) was rolled out on 23 December 2011 to begin ground testing and systems evaluation, prior to the aircraft’s first flight scheduled for the third quarter of 2012. [28] [29] The first engine run was completed on January 17, 2012. [30] [31]
The aircraft's first flight occurred on 27 November 2012, with certification and initial deliveries expected in early 2014. [32] The first flight test crew was composed of the program Test Pilot Eduardo Camelier, Chief Test Pilot Mozart Louzada, Flight Test Director Alexandre Figueiredo and Flight Test Engineer Gustavo Paixao. [33] [ importance? ] The maiden flight was from Embraer headquarters at São José dos Campos Airport and all prototypes were flown to the Gaviao Peixoto Airport test facility after their first flight.[ citation needed ]
After 1,800 hours of flight tests and 20,000 hours of laboratory tests, its type certificate was received from National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC) on August 12, 2014, exceeding design goals. [34] First delivery occurred to a Brazilian company on October 11, 2014. [35] [36] It received its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification on October 21, 2014. [37] Delivery of the 50th Legacy 500 is expected in the third quarter of 2016. [38]
The Legacy 500 can be configured to carry up to 12 passengers, and can carry eight passengers over 2,948 nautical miles (5,460 km; 3,392 mi), or four passengers over 3,125 nautical miles (5,788 km; 3,596 mi). [39] The aircraft fly-by-wire control enhances safety and comfort. [40] [41] Climbing to its FL 430 initial cruise altitude takes 22 min and its 27° wing sweep allow a 436 kn (807 km/h)TAS average long-range cruise, Mach 0.76 - 0.78, while a Mach 0.80 cruise lowers the range by 3%. [42]
The Legacy 500 competes with midsize jets like the $17.9 million Cessna Citation Sovereign+ and $23.4 million Cessna Citation X, [43] but also with super-midsize $24 million Gulfstream G280 and $26 million Bombardier Challenger 350 and can be compared with the halted $21 million Learjet 85 program. [44]
The Legacy 450 first flight occurred on December 28, 2013. [45] It received its Brazilian certification on 11 August 2015, exceeding its design goals. [46] [47] It was certified by the FAA shortly after on 31 August 2015. [48] Embraer announced on 22 December 2015 its first delivery to LMG, LLC, an American provider of video, audio, and lighting support headquartered in Orlando. [49]
Its fuselage is shortened by 4 feet (122 cm) and it has a flight life of 27,500 flight hours, its stall speed is 104 kn (193 km/h) and its minimum control speed is 142 kn (263 km/h). [50] It competes with the $16.25 million Cessna Citation Latitude and the $17.9 million Cessna Citation Sovereign. [43] In July 2016, its certified range was extended to 2,904 nmi (5,378 km; 3,342 mi), 329 nmi (609 km; 379 mi) more than previously, [51] and it is designed to carry seven to nine passengers. [52]
Model | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Legacy 450 | – | 3 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | – | – | – | – | 58 |
Legacy 500 | 3 | 20 | 21 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 1 | – | – | – | 80 |
Praetor 500 | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 20 | 62 |
Praetor 600 | – | – | – | – | – | 13 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 90 |
Total | 3 | 23 | 33 | 29 | 23 | 42 | 29 | 31 | 36 | 41 | 251 |
Near 70% of the 50+ Legacy 500s are in the U.S., mostly owned by Fortune 1000 private firms or wealthy individuals. Toluca's Fly Across operates four Legacy 500s, as is Flexjet which plan to trade its five 450s to five 500s to become its largest operator. U.S. jet charter and management company Clay Lacy Aviation operates multiple Legacy-family business jets. [54] The Legacy 500 average mission is less than two hours, and while fleet operators fly them more than 700 hours per year, single-aircraft operators typically fly theirs 150–200 hours per year. [42]
It burns 2,200–2,400 lb (1,000–1,090 kg) of fuel in the first hour, and then 1,700–1,800 lb (770–820 kg) at heavy weights down to 1,500–1,600 lb (680–730 kg) when lighter. Maintenance per flight hour cost US$642 to US$658 for the two Honeywell HTF7500E depending on utilization, while airframe costs US$321 plus US$4,300 per month for low-utilization. Dispatch reliability often exceeds 99% with most components mounted outside the pressure vessel for easy access if it breaks, except batteries and potable water servicing. [42]
The EMB-550 Legacy 500 is known as Embraer IU-50 in the Brazilian Air Force, and used as radar calibration aircraft. [55]
Model | Legacy 450 [52] | Praetor 500 [56] | Legacy 500 [39] | Praetor 600 [57] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cockpit crew | Two | |||
Capacity | 7–9 passengers | 8–12 passengers | ||
Baggage capacity | 4.2 m3 (150 cu ft) | 4.4 m3 (155 cu ft) | ||
Length | 19.69 m (64 ft 7 in) | 20.74 m (68 ft 1 in) | ||
Height | 6.43 m (21 ft 1 in) | 6.44 m (21 ft 2 in) | ||
Wingspan [58] | 19.25 m (63 ft 2 in) | 21.50 m (70 ft 6 in) | 19.25 m (63 ft 2 in) | 21.50 m (70 ft 6 in) |
Wing area [58] | 44.85 m2 (482.8 sq ft) | |||
Basic operating weight [a] | 10,425 kg (22,983 lb) | 10,391 kg (22,908 lb) [13] | 10,750 kg (23,700 lb) [b] | 11,503 kg (25,360 lb) |
Maximum payload | 1,325 kg (2,921 lb) | 1,300 kg (2,900 lb) | 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) | |
MTOW [58] | 16,220 kg (35,759 lb) | 17,040 kg (37,567 lb) [13] | 17,400 kg (38,360 lb) | 19,440 kg (42,858 lb) |
Fuel capacity [58] | 4,962 kg (10,939 lb) | 5,920 kg (13,050 lb) | 7,320 kg (16,140 lb) | |
Cabin altitude | 1,829 m (6,000 ft) | 1,768 m (5,800 ft) | 1,829 m (6,000 ft) | 1,768 m (5,800 ft) |
Cabin height × width | 1.83 m (6 ft) × 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) | |||
Cabin length | 7 m (24 ft) | 8.18 m (26 ft 10 in) | ||
Turbofan (×2) | Honeywell HTF7500E | |||
Thrust (ISA + 18°C) (2×) | 29.09 kN (6,540 lbf) | 31.30 kN (7,036 lbf) | 33.49 kN (7,528 lbf) | |
Max. speed | Mach 0.83 | |||
High cruise speed | 856 km/h (462 kn; 532 mph) | 863 km/h (466 kn; 536 mph) [21] | ||
Range† | 2,900 nmi (5,400 km; 3,300 mi) | 3,340 nmi (6,190 km; 3,840 mi) | 3,125 nmi (5,788 km; 3,596 mi) | 4,018 nmi (7,441 km; 4,624 mi) [18] |
Ceiling | 13,716 m (45,000 ft) | |||
Time to climb | 13,000 m (43,000 ft) in 21 min | 13,000 m (43,000 ft) in 22 min [34] | ||
Wing loading | 362 kg/m2 (74 lb/sq ft) | 380 kg/m2 (78 lb/sq ft) | 388 kg/m2 (79 lb/sq ft) | 433 kg/m2 (89 lb/sq ft) |
Take-off distance [c] | 1,191 m (3,907 ft) | 1,287 m (4,222 ft) [21] | 1,245 m (4,084 ft) | 1,352 m (4,436 ft) [18] |
Landing distance [c] | 637 m (2,090 ft) | 636 m (2,086 ft) [21] | 647 m (2,122 ft) | 692 m (2,270 ft) |
Hourly LRC fuel burn | 806 L (213 US gal) [59] | 893 L (236 US gal) [60] |
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
A business jet, private jet, or bizjet is a jet aircraft designed for transporting small groups of people, typically business executives and high-ranking associates. Business jets are generally designed for faster air travel and more personal comfort than commercial aircraft, and may be adapted for other roles, such as casualty evacuation or express parcel deliveries, and some are used by public bodies, government officials, VIPs, or even the military.
The Cessna 750 Citation X is an American mid-size business jet produced by Cessna and part of the Citation family. Announced at the October 1990 NBAA convention, the Model 750 made its maiden flight on December 21, 1993, received its type certification on June 3, 1996, and was first delivered in July 1996. The updated Citation X+ was offered from 2012 with a 14 in (360 mm) cabin stretch and upgraded systems. Keeping the Citation III fuselage cross section, it has a new 37° swept wing with an area of 527 ft² for a fast Mach 0.935 MMO and a 36,600 lb MTOW for a 3,460 nmi (6,408 km) range, a T-tail and two 7,034 lbf (31.29 kN) AE3007 turbofans. After 338 deliveries, production ended in 2018.
The Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 is a light business jet designed and produced by the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer. Certified for single-pilot operations, it can carry up to 11 occupants. Work on the Phenom 300 started in response to customer demands for a larger business aircraft than the Phenom 100, a very light jet. While the design team originally intended for the aircraft to be a straightforward stretched derivative of the Phenom 100, a clean sheet approach was later adopted. The Phenom 300 featured more powerful engines, the addition of spoiler and winglets, along with an elongated cabin to accommodate more passengers. Several features, from its cabin and interior design to its landing gear and structure, can be traced back to the Phenom 100.
The Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 is a very light (VLJ) business jet designed and produced by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer. Announced in November 2005, it made its first flight on 26 July 2007 and was awarded a type certificate in December 2008; the first aircraft was delivered the same month. The Phenom 100 has been stretched into the larger Embraer Phenom 300. Powered by two rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PW600 turbofans, it can transport four to seven passengers, with a range of 1,178 nautical miles [nmi] with four occupants. As of April 2023, 401 had been delivered.
The Bombardier Challenger 300 is a 3,100-nautical-mile range super mid-sized business jet designed and produced by the Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace.
The Cessna Citation Mustang is a very light jet that was built by Cessna. Launched at the 2002 NBAA convention, the Model 510 first flew on April 23, 2005. It received its FAA type certification on September 8, 2006, and was first delivered on November 22. Production ended in 2017 after 479 aircraft were built. The 8,645 lb (3,921 kg) maximum take-off weight jet is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F 1,460 lbf (6.5 kN) turbofans, can reach 340 kn (630 km/h), and has a range of 1,167 nmi (2,161 km).
The Embraer Legacy 600 is a business jet derivative of the Embraer ERJ family of commercial jet aircraft.
The Cessna Citation is a family of business jets by Cessna that started in 1972 with the entry into service of the first model. In the fifty years following the 1969 first flight, more than 7,500 Citations were delivered, forming the largest business jet fleet. Deliveries reached 8,000 by 2022, while logging over 41 million flight hours.
The Hawker 4000, originally known as the Hawker Horizon, is a super-midsize business jet developed by Hawker Beechcraft.
The Cessna Citation III is an American business jet produced by Cessna and part of the Citation family. Announced at the October 1976 NBAA convention, the Model 650 made its maiden flight on May 30, 1979, received its type certification on April 30, 1982 and was delivered between 1983 and 1992. The cheaper Citation VI was produced from 1991 to 1995 and the more powerful Citation VII was offered between 1992 and 2000; 360 of all variants were delivered, while a proposed transcontinental variant, the Citation IV, was canceled before reaching the prototype stage. An all new design, the Citation III had a 312 sq ft swept wing for a 22,000 lb MTOW and a 2,350 nmi (4,350 km) range, a T-tail and two 3,650–4,080 lbf (16.2–18.1 kN) TFE731 turbofans. Its fuselage cross section and cockpit were kept in the later Citation X, Citation Excel and Citation Sovereign.
The Cessna CitationJet/CJ/M2 are a series of light business jets built by Cessna, and are part of the Citation family. Launched in October 1989, the first flight of the Model 525 was on April 29, 1991. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification was awarded on October 16, 1992, and the first aircraft was delivered on March 30, 1993. The CJ series are powered by two Williams FJ44 engines; the design uses the Citation II's forward fuselage with a new carry-through section wing and a T-tail. The original CitationJet model has been updated into the CJ1/CJ1+/M2 variants; additionally, the CJ1 was stretched into the CJ2/CJ2+ which was built between 2000 and 2016. The design was then further developed into the CJ3/CJ3+, built from December 2004 to present, and finally into the CJ4 which has been built since 2010. By June 2017, 2,000 of all variants had been delivered.
The Gulfstream G200, formerly known as the IAI Galaxy, is a twin-engine business jet. It was designed originally by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and was produced by IAI for Gulfstream Aerospace from 1999 through 2011.
The Dassault Falcon 2000 is a business jet produced by French Dassault Aviation, a member of its Falcon business jet line. Developed from the Falcon 900 trijet, the smaller twinjet has less range.
The Gulfstream G400, G500, and G600 (GVII) are American twin-engine business jets designed and produced by Gulfstream Aerospace. The aircraft are designated Gulfstream GVII-G500 and GVII-G600 in their type certificate.
The Honeywell HTF7000 is a turbofan engine produced by Honeywell Aerospace. Rated in the 6,540–7,624 lbf (29.09–33.91 kN) range, the HTF7000 is used on the Bombardier Challenger 300/350, Gulfstream G280, Embraer Legacy 500/450 and the Cessna Citation Longitude. Its architecture could be extended for a range of 8,000 to 10,000 lbf thrust.
The Cessna Citation Sovereign is an American business jet developed by Cessna, part of the Cessna Citation family. Announced at the 1998 NBAA convention, the Model 680 made its maiden flight in February 2002, certification was awarded on June 2, 2004, and deliveries began in late September. The Citation Excel fuselage was stretched and joined with an all-new, larger wing and more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306C engines for increased maximum takeoff weight and a 3,200 nmi (5,900 km) range. The improved Sovereign+ was announced at the October 2012 NBAA for a first flight in April 2013 and deliveries in December, with added winglets and an improved flight deck and engines.
The Gulfstream G280 is a twin-engine business jet built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for Gulfstream Aerospace. It began delivery to users in 2012.
The Cessna Citation Longitude is a business jet produced by Cessna, part of the Cessna Citation family. It remains the largest business jet by Cessna. Announced at the May 2012 EBACE, the Model 700 made its first flight on October 8, 2016, with certification obtained in September 2019. The aluminum airframe has the fuselage cross-section of the Citation Latitude, stretched by a seat row. Powered by Honeywell HTF7000 turbofans, it has a new ~28° swept wing and a T-tail for a 3,500 nmi (6,500 km) range.
The Cessna Citation Latitude is a business jet built by Cessna. The Model 680A was announced at the 2011 NBAA convention, the prototype first flew on 18 February 2014, it achieved FAA certification on June 5, 2015, and first deliveries began on August 27. It retains the Model 680 Sovereign wing, twin P&WC PW306D turbofans and cruciform tail and adds a new stand-up circular fuselage with a flat floor, which was kept in the stretched, re-winged, and re-engined Cessna Citation Longitude.
The Pilatus PC-24 is a light business jet produced by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. Following the success of the PC-12 single engine turboprop, work on the twin engine jet began in 2007 for greater range and speed, keeping the rugged airfield capability. The aircraft was introduced on 21 May 2013 and rolled out on 1 August 2014, with the maiden flight on 11 May 2015. The PC-24 received EASA and FAA type certification on 7 December 2017 and the first customer delivery was on 7 February 2018. Powered by two Williams FJ44 turbofans, it competes with the Embraer Phenom 300 and the Cessna Citation CJ4.