Photograph:
Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante VH-BWC (c/n 110261) of Pacific Airlines at Bankstown, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Brazil
Description:
Turboprop regional airliner
Power Plant:
Two 559 kw (750 shp) Pratt & Whitney [Canada] PT6A-34 turboprops
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 15.32 m (50 ft 3⅛ in)
- Length: 15.08 m (49 ft 5¾ in)
- Height: 4.73 m (15 ft 6¼ in)
- Wing area: 29 m² (312 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed at 5,200 m (17,060 ft): 422 km/h (262 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 360 km/h (224 mph)
- Service ceiling: 6,858 m (22,500 ft)
- Range with max payload and 30 mins reserve: 278 km (173 miles)
- Range with max fuel and 593 kg (1,307 lb) payload: 1,916 km (1,191 miles)
- Empty weight: 3,416 kg (7,751 lb)
- Loaded weight: 5,670 kg (12,500 lb)
History:
Designed and developed by Embraer (Empres a Brasileirs da Aeronautica SA), which was 51 per cent owned by the Brazilan Government, the Bandeirante series of aircraft was designed initially to meet the needs of the FAB (Brazilian Air Force) for a light transport. Eventually the type was developed to meet a number of other roles, and became one of the best sellers on the market in its class, over 500 examples being completed when production concluded in favour of newer designs.
The prototype, finished in Brazilian Air Force markings and known as the YC 95, flew for the first time on 26 October 1968 powered by two 410 kw (550 shp) Pratt & Whitney (Canada) PT6A-20 turboprops. In 1969 the Brazilian Government placed an order for 80 examples of the new type for the FAB as the EMB-200. The prototypes were then designated the EMB-100, and in production form it became known as the EMB-110.
The first aircraft to be delivered was fitted with 507 kw (680 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27 turboprops. The first production C 95, as it had then become known, was delivered on 2 February 1973. In order to test the aircraft in service, and to make sure that when marketed overseas it would have adequate sales backing, the manufacturer restricted all production aircraft to sales within Brazil but, as production increased, new markets opened up and orders came from Uruguay and overseas for military and civil transports.
A variety of versions was developed to meet specific needs, including: EMB-110A for radio calibration duties; EMB-110B for aerial survey; EMB-110C, EMB-110K and EMB-110P for commuter operations; EMB-110E for executive use; EMB-110S1 with a magnetometer boom in the tail, increased fuel in integral tanks, and other special equipment for geophysical survey duties; EMB-111(M) and EMB-111(N), maritime patrol variants with increased fuel capacity, wingtip tanks, nose-mounted search radar, wing-mounted searchlight and underwing weapon pylons. The EMB-111(N) also had full de-icing capability.
The Bandeirante was very popular in Australasia and was used for regional airline work, a few seeing work in the charter role. Some 19 examples have appeared on the Australian Civil Aircraft Register, and 14 on the New Zealand Register at one stage.
Operators over the years have included Davey Air Services with VH-WDI (c/n 110-227); Advance Airlines, Bassair, Hazelton Airlines with VH-WPI (c/n 110-281) and VH-WPE (c/n 110-441); Masling Airlines, which was the first operator of the type in this region in 1978, with VH-MWU (c/n 110-184), VH-MWV (c/n 110-190), VH-MWF (c/n 110-447), VH-MWW (c/n 110-194), and VH-MWX (c/n 110-245).
East Coast / Eastern Airlines with VH-HVS (c/n 110-233), VH-WDI (c/n 110-227), and VH-WDF (c/n 110-210); Eastland Air of Toowomba West, QLD which leased a Bandeirante in 1998; Arnhem Air with VH-KHA (c/n 110-190); Transtate in QLD with VH-UQA (c/n 110-245), VH-UQB (c/n 110-253), VH-UQC (c/n 110-194), and VH-UQD (c/n 110-208); Augusta Airways, which merged with Lincoln Airlines to form Airlines of South Australia, with VH-LNB (c/n 110-441) and VH-LNC (c/n 110422); Wings Australia; King Island Airlines with VH-KGQ (c/n 110-221).
Skywest of Perth, WA; Flight West Airlines with VH-XFJ (c/n 110-241), VH-XFK (c/n 110-253), VH-XFL (c/n 110-245), VH-XFM (c/n 110-194), VH-XFN (c/n 110-410), VH-XFO (c/n 110-232), and VH-XFP – c/n 110-236); Airlines of Tasmania with VH-WPI (c/n 110-281); Sunshine Express Airlines in Queensland with VH-SJP (c/n 110-347); Aerolink Pty Ltd with VH-WBI (c/n 110-292); Aus Air of Moorabbin, VIC with VH-OZF (c/n 110-201); National Jet Systems with VH-WBI (c/n 110-292); Aerolink Services of Sydney with VH-MWF (c/n 110-447); Port Douglas Airways with VH-BWC (c/n 110-261); Executive Air Charter also with VH-BWC; and others.
For a period in 1995 the Australian Army leased two Bandeirantes from Flight West Airlines for general freight and utility work to cover the loss of capacity following the grounding of the GAF Nomad fleet, the Bandeirantes (including VH-XTL) being flown by No 173 Squadron crews.
The EMB-110P first flew in January 1976 with Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27 engines. Nearly all of the Australian Bandeirantes have been the EMB-110P1 or EMB-110P2 variants designed, like the EMB-110C, specifically for commuter work. The EMB-110C was the basic commercial passenger transport variant, similar to the Brazilian Air Force C 95, usually seating 15 or 16 passengers in high-density layouts, or 12 for longer hauls.
The EMB-110K1 variant was the basic aircraft with the fuselage lengthened by 0.85 m (2 ft 9½ in) with Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 engines. A large cargo door was fitted in the rear fuselage, and an extra door was fitted in the fuselage on the port side just behind the cockpit.
In New Zealand operators have included: Air New Zealand Link / Eagle Airways of Hamilton with ZK-CEF (c/n 110-328), ZK-DCH (c/n 110-364), ZK- ERU (c/n 110-267), ZK-FHX (c/n 110-225), ZK-JCM (c/n 110-305), ZK-KIP (c/n 110-286), ZK-LBC (c/n 110-345), ZK-MAS (c/n 110-214), ZK-NDC (c/n 110-379), ZK-TRM (c/n 110-436), and ZK-VJG (c/n 110-298).
Air New Zealand Regional with ZK-REU¹ (c/n 110-248), registered from October 1990 to May 1991 when it was exported as VH-SBH; ZK-REU² (c/n 110-298), registered from November 1995 to April 1999 when it became ZK-TZN with Cityjet Ltd; ZK-REV (c/n 110-274), registered from October 1993 to August 2000 when the registration was cancelled; ZK-REW (c/n 110-328), registered June 1993 to September 1998 when it went to Transglobal as ZK-TZM; ZK-REX¹ (c/n 110-184), registered from July 1989 to February 1996 when it was scrapped at Wellington; ZK-REX² (c/n 110-407), registered from November 1996 to October 1999 when it was exported as VH-TLH; and ZK-REZ (c/n 110-417), registered from February 1996 to June 1999 when it was exported to Sunshine Express Airlines as VH-TLD.
Air National Corporate Ltd of Auckland with ZK-ECM (c/n 110-383); Air Raratonga with ZK-FTS (c/n 110-239), ZK-TAI (c/n 110-387), and ZK-TAK (c/n 110-448). These aircraft operated in the Cook Islands and on 1 June 2005 the registration prefix was changed from the New Zealand ZK- to E5-, the Bandeirantes becoming E5-FTS, E5-TAI and E5-TAK. Tranzair with ZK-REX (c/n 110-184), ZK-TRM (c/n 110-417), and ZK-TRN (c/n 110-436).
The EMB-110P1 was intended for commercial operations but was also operated in the quick-change role, with its lengthened fuselage, crew door in the front fuselage, and a maximum capacity of 21 passengers, or up to 1,522 kg (3,421 lb) in the cargo role. The EMB-110P2 differed from the EMB-110P1 in that it did not have the enlarged cargo door but had a normal door with an airstair and had seating for up to 21 in a three-abreast layout with provision for a toilet at the rear.
Over the years the Bandeirante has been a very successful aircraft in this region in its intended role. Only some of the aircraft and some of he operators have been dealt with above.