Photograph:
Embraer Legacy 600 VH-VLT (c/n 14501107) at the Australian International Air Show at Avalon, VIC (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Brazil
Description:
Business and executive aircraft
Power Plant:
Two 8,810 lbst Rolls Royce AE 3007/A1P turbofans
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 21.17 m (68 ft 11 in)
- Length: 26.33 m (86 ft 5 in)
- Height: 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in)
- Max operating speed Mach: 0.80
- Normal cruising speed Mach: 0.78
- Max speed: 834 km/h (518 mph)
- Service ceiling: 12,496 m (41,000 ft)
- Max range: 6,600 km (3,740 miles)
- Max fuel capacity 8,528 kg (18,800 lb): 10,465 litres (2,302 Imp gals)
- Take-off distance: 1,711 m (5,614 ft)
- Landing distance at sea level: 818 m (2,685 ft)
- Empty weight: 16,000 kg (30,000 lb)
- Loaded weight: 22,500 kg (49,604 lb)
History:
The Legacy 600 was one of a series of business and executive aircraft designed, developed and constructed in Brazil by Embraer, being a development of the ERJ 135 family of commercial airliners, but being fitted with the Mark I cockpit installed in the EMB 145 series. The Legacy 600 featured extra fuel tanks in the tail behind the baggage compartment and forward of the wing to extend the range. It was fitted with winglets as part of a drag-reduction program and was able to operate at a higher altitude than the commercial airliner variants.
The new model was launched at the Farnborough Air Show in 2000 and the prototype made its first flight on 31 March 2001. The Legacy 600 was one of the largest of the VIP aircraft in the range and competed against the Bombardier Challenger 850, the Global Express and the Gulfstream IV series. More than 250 examples have been delivered to operators around the world. It joined a range of aircraft from the Company which commenced with the Phenom 100 and 300 up to the Lineage 1000, a long-range business variant of the Embraer E 190 commercial airliner series. Seating was available for a crew and up to 13 passengers in three partitioned sections but it could be fitted with airline-style seats, thus allowing up to a maximum of 37 persons to be carried.
The cabin was 12.92 m (42 ft 4 in) long and 2.1 m (6 ft 9 in) wide, providing a total of 40.01 m³ (1,413 ft³). Engines were the Rolls Royce AE3007A1E high-bypass turbofan, dual FADEC-controlled, providing 7,897 lb thrust. High cruising speed was 455 knots (843 km/h – 524 mph). A FADEC-controlled Hamilton-Sundstrand APU (auxiliary power unit) was available during the flight, which aided operations at airports with no support infrastructure. The aircraft was also fitted with a digital break-by-wire system including anti-skid protection and carbon fibre brakes. The cockpit featured a Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics suite and was a full glass cockpit.
A further variant of the Legacy 600 was the 650 which was an even longer range model, having a range of 7,223 km (4,488 miles) with four passengers, or 7,112 km (4,419 miles) with eight passengers, this model being launched at the American National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) event in 2009. Production commenced in 2013, the Chinese company Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation being involved in its construction.
First example of the type operated in Australia was VH-VLT (c/n 14501107 – ex PT-TKF), operated on VIP charter flights in the Pacific by Marcplan Charter.