Yesterday Brazillan airframer successfully performed the first flight of the KC-390 military transport and aerial refueling jet. The aircraft bears the registration PT-ZNF and is powered by International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500-E5 engines. The aircraft was crewed by test pilots Mozart Louzada and Marcos Salgado de Oliveira Lima and flight test engineers Raphael Lima and Roberto Becker who flew the aircraft for 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Frederico Fleury Curado, President and CEO, Embraer
“This first flight is a fundamental step toward accomplishing the task with which we were entrusted. The KC-390 is the result of a close cooperation with the Brazilian Air Force and international partners, representing what is most likely the greatest technological challenge that the Company has ever encountered in its history. We are profoundly moved for having achieved this key milestone”
Jackson Schneider, President and CEO, Embraer Defense & Security
“The program continues to move forward as planned and the KC-390 has drawn interest from several countries around the world We are proud to once again keep our commitments in the development of this aircraft, which will set a new standard in the category of tactical military transport.”
On its maiden flight, the KC-390 crew performed maneuvers to evaluate its flight characteristics and conducted a variety of systems tests.
this could be good option for IAF in future. We need tactical transport capabilities in near future. C-130J Albeit good, is quite expensive for our country,