At the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In this week in Lakeland, Fla., Embraer said its Phenom 100 very light jet and derivative Phenom 300 light jet are making "steady" progress. The Phenom 100 prototype's wing mating went "exceptionally smooth" the company's plant in São José dos Campos, Brazil. Both the wing and the fuselage – assembled at the Botucatu plant – arrived at Embraer’s main facility and are undergoing systems integration. First flight of the VLJ is expected this summer, with certification scheduled for mid-2008. Meanwhile, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer has cut the first metal for the Phenom 300. An automated five-axis high-speed machining center milled the aircraft’s first part – a nose landing gear fitting located in the forward fuselage.
“The first metal cut is another significant achievement that confirms the steady advance of the Phenom 30 0 program,” said Henrique Langenegger, Embraer Vice-President of Executive Jet Programs. The Phenom 300 is slated to fly next year, with Brazilian approval planned for mid-2009.
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