Embraer's KC-390 military transport and tanker jet has arrived in Florida for two to three weeks of flight trials as part of its certification flight test campaign.
Embraer's KC-390 military transport and tanker jet has arrived at the company's facility in Jacksonville, Florida for a series of flight trials in the United States as part of its certification flight test campaign.
The tests, due to last for two to three weeks, will focus on avionics systems, measurement of external noise and operations with cross wind.
The KC-390 is capable of carrying out various missions, such as transporting cargo, troops or dropping paratroopers, and aerial refueling, search and rescue, medical evacuation and aerial firefighting, in addition to supporting humanitarian missions. It can transport up to 26t of cargo at a maximum speed of 470 knots (870km/h), and can operate from unprepared or damaged runways.
Since the start of the flight test campaign, in October 2015, the two KC-390 prototypes have demonstrated high rates of availability, accumulating more than 1,450 flight hours.
The KC-390, which is being jointly marketed with Boeing, performed a 40-day demonstration tour this summer, flying over 19 countries, with presentations to nine nations in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
Initial Operational Capability is targeted for the end of this year, and first delivery — to the Brazilian Air Force — is scheduled for 2018.