First KC-390 gets wings on assembly line

By: STEPHEN TRIMBLE, published in flightglobal.com, Sep 24, 2014

Embraer has moved the wing and sponsons of the first KC-390 into place on the assembly line, the Brazilian manufacturer has revealed.

The company’s third photo update of the tanker-transport posted online shows the programme continues to make progress, but it still has much work to do before a scheduled first flight by year-end.

Embraer

The latest picture, released on 23 September, is framed in such a way that it obscures any view of the aft fuselage, so it is not clear whether the aircraft’s vertical and horizontal stabilisers have been integrated.

Although International Aero Engines delivered the V2500-E5 turbofans for the aircraft in August, the picture shows that they have not yet been installed under the wings. Embraer also has yet to install the radome, the windows for the flightdeck and panel coverings over the forward avionics component.

The release of the photo on 23 September follows an emerging pattern. Embraer released its first picture of an unpainted, wingless fuselage on the assembly line on 22 May. This was followed two months later with a new photo showing a painted fuselage with landing gear attached, but still wingless and tailless.

Embraer has revealed a 25 October target to conduct the roll-out of the KC-390, which is scheduled to achieve first flight by year-end and certification in the first half of 2016.

The Brazilian air force has ordered 28 of the type, and the project has also attracted commitments from five more countries to potentially order another 32.

International Aero Engines Achieves Certification of V2500®-E5 Engine

 

aviationnews.eu. Published August 27, 2014. By Marcel van Leeuwen

 

IAE International Aero Engines AG has achieved Federal Aviation Administration certification of the V2500®-E5 engine for Embraer’s KC-390 aircraft. The KC-390′s launch customer is the Brazilian Air Force.”Achieving engine certification on schedule is a big win for the program,” said Jackson Schneider, president and CEO, Embraer Defense & Security. “We have a high level of confidence that the engine will perform as reliably as its in-service counterpart has done, and we look forward to a successful first flight.””Reaching certification is further proof of the steadfast reliability of our V2500 engines and our development team’s ability to enhance this technology,” said Dave Brantner, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. “Our entire team looks forward to supporting Embraer’s goals for the KC-390 program.”The V2500-E5 engine, rated at 31,330 pounds of thrust, was selected in July 2011 by Embraer Defense & Security and the Brazilian Air Force, which established the KC-390 requirements. While Embraer and its customers desire maximum commonality with the V2500 engine, changes have been made to optimize installation with the new airframe.The overall IAE program provides a fully integrated propulsion system, including the V2500-E5 engine and nacelle with engine build-up and nacelle installations supported by UTC Aerospace Systems’ Aerostructures business. The system will be delivered to Embraer’s customer, the Brazilian Air Force, supporting a scheduled 2016 entry into service.Throughout its 45-year history, Embraer has been involved in all aspects of aviation. In addition to design, development, manufacturing, sales and technical support for commercial, agricultural and executive aviation, Embraer also offers integrated solutions for defense and security. It has produced more than 5,000 aircraft that operate in 80 countries on five continents, and it is the market leader for commercial jets with up to 120 seats. Embraer currently manufactures executive jets, and is now entering a new level in the defense segment.IAE is a multinational aero engine consortium whose shareholders comprise Pratt & Whitney (NYSE: UTX), Pratt & Whitney Aero Engines International GmbH, Japanese Aero Engines Corporation and MTU Aero Engines. To date, more than 6,000 V2500 engines have been delivered to close to 200 customers around the world.

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