最近，巴西航空工業(yè)公司(Embraer)的E190-E2噴氣式飛機從巴西São José dos Campos起飛，順利完成處女航。至此，公司的E-Jets E2項目邁出了重要的一步。今年2月底, E190-E2才剛剛在公司裝配廠的發(fā)布儀式上與公眾首次見面，短短3個月后，就順利完成首飛。據(jù)了解，按照計劃這架飛機原定于今年下半年進行首飛，不過由于大量應用了數(shù)字建模仿真，并在地面與靜力試驗中借助了“鐵鳥”平臺等設備，E2項目的推進速度超出預期。
據(jù)了解，E190-E2為巴西航空工業(yè)公司3款第二代E-Jet噴氣式飛機中的第一款。本次首航標志著E190-E2已經進入認證階段。按照計劃，這款E-Jet機型將于2018年投入商業(yè)運營。
本次首航評估了飛機的操作和性能特性，機組人員還分析了大量飛行參數(shù)，包括速度、高度以及起落架收起情況等。在首航過程中，機組人員使飛機加速至0.82 Mach，并攀升至41000英尺。
據(jù)了解，巴西航空工業(yè)公司為了E190-E2的認證程序，共制造了4架原型機，本次進行首航的飛機就是其中1架。此外，公司為預計將于2019年開始服役的E195-E2認證制造了2架原型機，并為預計將于2020年開始服役的E175-E2認證準備了3架原型機。
E-Jets E2采用了與現(xiàn)行版E190相同的平臺，但應用了更多先進技術，比如新的先進空氣動力學高展弦比機翼、改進的系統(tǒng)與航空電子設備、Moog公司的第四代全飛行線控飛行控制系統(tǒng)，以及普惠公司（Pratt & Whitney）的PurePower GTF發(fā)動機（E-175-E2采用了PW1700G發(fā)動機，E190-E2和E195-E2則采用了PW1900G）。巴西航空工業(yè)公司表示，由于使用了這些技術，新機型的油耗、排放、噪音和維護成本均實現(xiàn)了超過10%的減少，而且由于維護停機時間得到縮短，該機型的生產力也有一定提高。新機型將使用一種通用的架駛艙，搭配霍尼韋爾(Honeywell)的Primus Epic 2航空電子系統(tǒng)，這有助于機組人員順利過渡至新機型。與傳統(tǒng)的窄機身機型相比，E-Jets E2系列噴氣式飛機的平均單座成本并沒有太大差異，但總體每次航班的成本將有所下降。
E190-E2的座位數(shù)量與E190類似，可以通過不同配置調整座位數(shù)量，雙艙型時為97座，單艙型時為106座。不過，E190-E2的續(xù)航里程比E190長400海里，航行高度高達2800海里。
自從2013年6月E-Jets E2上市以來，巴西航空工業(yè)公司已經從多家航空公司和租賃公司拿到640架飛機的生產訂單：其中，267架為公司訂單，另外373架為選擇和購買權訂單。E-Jets系列是130座以下級別機型的領頭羊，全球市場份額超過50％。目前，巴西航空工業(yè)公司的E-Jets噴氣式飛機正在為來自50個國家的70多家客戶服務。
作者：Jean L. Broge
來源：SAE《航空航天工程》雜志
翻譯：SAE中國辦公室
Embraer's first E190-E2 jet takes off early
Embraer's E-Jets E2 program took an important step forward with the recent completion of the maiden flight of the E190-E2 from its facility in São José dos Campos. The flight occurred just three months after the E190-E2 made its public début at a rollout ceremony at the factory in late February. The flight was originally scheduled not to take place until the second half of this year, though program development of the E2 was expedited by the extensive use of digital modeling simulations and ground and static tests that employed rigs and an iron bird.
The inaugural flight marked the beginning of the certification campaign for the E190-E2, the first of three new second-generation E-Jet models. The E190-E2 is scheduled to enter commercial service in 2018.
The flight entailed the evaluation of aircraft handling and performance characteristics with the crew analyzing a significant number of flight parameters, including speed, altitude, and landing gear retraction. The crew took the aircraft to Mach 0.82 and climbed to 41,000 ft.
The aircraft that flew is the first of four prototypes that will be used in the E190-E2 certification program. Two additional aircraft will be assigned for the E195-E2 certification process that will lead to entry into service in 2019. Three more aircraft will be used to certify the E175-E2, which is scheduled to enter service in 2020.
E-Jets E2s are based on the proven platform of the current-generation E190, but with more advanced technologies applied such as new aerodynamically advanced high-aspect ratio wings, improved systems and avionics, fourth-generation full fly-by-wire flight controls from Moog, and Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower GTF engines (PW1700G on the E175-E2, PW1900G on the E190-E2 and E195-E2). Embraer says those technologies combine to generate double-digit reductions in fuel consumption, emissions, noise, and maintenance costs, as well greater productivity though less scheduled maintenance downtime. What they will share is a common cockpit with Honeywell's Primus Epic 2 avionics system, which will allow for a smooth transition to the new aircraft. E-Jets E2s are expected to achieve similar costs per seat as larger re-engined narrow-body aircraft but with lower costs per trip.
The E190-E2 has the same number of seats as the E190 and can be configured with 97 seats in dual class or 106 seats in a single-class layout. However, it has 400 nmi more range than the E190 and gives operators the ability to fly the aircraft up to 2800 nmi.
Since the E-Jets E2s were launched in June 2013, the program has logged 640 commitments from airlines and leasing companies: 267 are firm orders and 373 are options and purchase rights. The E-Jets family of aircraft is the leader in the up-to-130-seat aircraft category with more than 50% worldwide market share. Embraer E-Jets are currently in service with some 70 customers from 50 countries.
Author: Jean L. Broge
Source: SAE Aerospace Engineering Magazine
巴西航空工業(yè)公司的E190-E2將保留現(xiàn)行版機型的駕駛艙，但將配備新的機翼，以及普惠公司的齒輪傳動渦扇發(fā)動機。動渦扇發(fā)動機。
巴西航空工業(yè)公司在今年2月發(fā)布了全新E190-E2噴氣式飛機，五月底進行了首次飛行。
巴西航空工業(yè)公司的新E2系列噴氣式飛機需要面臨不少競爭，包括波音公司(Boeing)的737 MAX、空中客車(Airbus)的A320neo及Bombardier公司的C系列。值得注意，后兩款機型也同樣采用了普惠公司的齒輪傳動渦扇發(fā)動機。