History of the Embraer Phenom 100
History of the Embraer Phenom 100
It was in May 2005 that Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer first revealed it was developing a new aircraft that would, initially, be marketed in the category of Very Light Jet.
It was created on four main principles: that it was easy to operate, simple to maintain, outstandingly reliable and had an extended economic life (designed for 35,000 life cycles, 20,000 more than its nearest competitor).
The first flight of the Phenom 100 was in July 2007. Following this, four prototype aircraft underwent a further 1,600 flight hours in order to further develop the jet.
Certification from Brazil’s ANAC national civil aviation authority was received at the beginning of December 2008, with US FAA certification following three days later. Embraer announced that the first delivery of a Phenom 100 jet was made on 24th December to a couple in Houston, Texas with between 10 and 15 more jets delivered before the end of the year. European certification was awarded in 2009.
The Phenom 100 was designed for use by a single owner-operator and, despite starting life as a Very Light Jet, actually found fame as the re-labelled classic entry-level jet, with the biggest cabin in its class and a high top speed. It’s not only used by private owner-operators but also by several airline training departments, including Etihad and Emirates.
In 2011, Embraer opened an assembly plant in Melbourne, Florida, its first in the US. This was initially for the exclusive manufacture of the Phenom 100, whose orders were becoming backlogged, but they then also began the production of its successor, the Phenom 300, there as well. Alongside the production of the jets, the Melbourne site also holds a sales and delivery centre for the Phenoms and a service centre for all of Embraer’s business jets.
The Phenom 100 spawned two later variants, the 100E (which arrived in 2014) and the 100EV (2016). The 100E was very similar to its parent jet but had multi-function spoilers and an upgraded interior. The 100EV was given upgraded engines and avionics.
In 2017, the RAF took delivery of two RAF Phenom 100s. These were made at the Embraer plant in Florida but came to the RAF via the company’s military facility in Brazil. These planes are used for multi-engine aircrew training, replacing the King Air B200 and B200GT.
Take a look at AeroClassified’s range of used Phenom 100s.
Familiarise yourself with the specifications below before you buy a Phenom 100.
The Phenom 100 executive jet stands at 14ft 3in tall and is 42ft 1in in length. Its wing span is 40ft 4in and it has a tail that measures 17ft 6 in. Its standard basic operating weight is 7,220lb. Mainly made from aluminium, the additional use of composite materials ensures the jet is both light and fast.
It is fitted with twin Pratt & Whitney PW617F1-E turbofan engines which have a high fuel efficiency and low carbon emissions and come equipped with intelligent monitoring and diagnostics that integrate with the electronics of the aircraft. The engines can be replaced by two mechanics in less than four hours.
Each engine provides 1,695lb of thrust, 15% more than any of Embraer’s previous models. This shortens take offs, needing only 3,125ft of runway, and cuts 25% off the time taken to reach cruising altitude. The Phenom 100 has a climb rate of 3,061 feet per minute and has a landing distance of 2,699ft.
With a maximum operating altitude of 41,000ft it can reach a high speed cruise of 390kts and it has a range of 1,178nm (based on four occupants).
The Oval Lite Cabin has a length of 11ft. Its height measures 4ft 9in and it has a width of 5ft 1in, giving it a volume of 265 cubic feet. The Phenom 100 also has the largest baggage compartments in its class: there’s 50cu.ft compartment in the aft fuselage and 5 cu.ft in the forward fuselage. In all, it’s able to hold four roll-on bags, four garment bags, four laptop bags and either four golf bags or two pairs of skis.
The cabin was designed in partnership with BMW Designworks USA and it offers seven ready-to-go interior schemes with a range of different materials that can customise the inside of the jet to suit the buyer’s taste.
The windows, which are larger than in any other aircraft in this class, offer plenty of natural light, including in the private lavatory, making it the only jet in this category to have a bathroom with windows. It is also the only jet in its class which has an airstairs door. The Phenom 100 makes wide use of LED lighting which offers a much better lifespan than filament lights.
The standard club seating configuration allows for four passengers and one crew member, but this can be altered for a maximum of eight people. The seats are ergonomically designed to provide maximum comfort, which is enhanced further by the intelligent climate control. This allows for two different temperature zones on board.
The cockpit is intentionally dark and quiet and comes installed with the Prodigy Touch Flight Deck 100, which was developed especially for the Phenom 100. It is designed to work on single pilot operation, with intuitive avionics and reduced checklists, due to the inclusion of its smart systems automation.
It is equipped with three 12.4in interchangeable displays, with soft keys which minimises the navigation time the pilot needs to spend on the menus.
It also comes with standard Flight Management and Synthetic Vision Systems, as well as a weather radar, which features a vertical scan capability, ground clutter suppression and turbulence detection. The cockpit windscreen is able to be removed and replaced from the outside of the jet by one person.
Click here to find Phenom 100s for sale
