The eagerly awaited baby of the E2 family, the E175-E2, has taken to the skies for the first time. The inaugural flight took place at San Jose dos Campos in the skies above the Embraer facility. The E175-E2 will join its bigger brothers the E190-E2 and E195-E2 to make up the entirety of the reimagined E-jet series.

E175-E2 test flight
The new E2 generation of Embraer jets will offer new levels of efficiency for regional jets. Photo: Embraer

Details of the flight

Embraer’s E175-E2 took its first flight today, December 12th 2019. It departed the runway adjacent to Embraer’s Faria Lima complex at around 11:07 this morning. Following a flight of two hours and 18 minutes, the aircraft landed safely back at the Embraer facility.

In command of the aircraft were Captain Mozart Louzada and first officer Wander Almodovar Golfetto. They were joined on board by flight engineers Gilberto Meira Cardoso and Mario Ito. Between the four of them, they spent the two hour flight evaluating the behavior, performance and quality of the aircraft.

E175-E2 test flight
The flight took place near Embraer's facility in San Jose dos Campos. Photo: Embraer

John Slattery, President & CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation, commented on the flight in a press release sent to Simple Flying, saying,

“Today’s flight of the E175-E2 marks the completion of our vision to produce a family of new-generation commercial aircraft that bring unparalleled cost savings to our customers, exceptional comfort for their passengers, and fewer emissions for the planet. The E190-E2 and the E195-E2 are already stellar performers. The E175-E2 is just as impressive. We’re eager to get working on certification. My sincere thanks to every Embraer employee who helped make this day possible.”

This may be the first test flight for the E175, but it certainly won’t be the last. In fact, Embraer says that this marks the start of a full 24 months of intensive flight testing before the aircraft is certified and brought to market.

E175-E2 test flight
Embraer will build three prototypes for testing. Photo: Embraer

In total, Embraer is building three E175-E2s for the purposes of testing. Aircraft one and two will be used for system, performance and aerodynamic tests, while number three will be outfitted with complete interior furnishings and used for validation of maintenance tasks.

What can we expect from the E175-E2?

In comparison to the original E175, the E2 variant comes with some marked improvements. The E2 offers fuel savings of 16% compared to its predecessor, and savings in maintenance costs of some 25%. It’s also slightly more capacious inside, with an additional row of seats, offering a capacity for passengers of 80 seats across two classes or 90 in a single class arrangement.

Just like the other E2 jets, the E175-E2 has been created to save airlines money, both during operation and in relation to maintenance. All the E2s have the longest maintenance intervals in the single aisle category, with some 10,000 flight hours between basic checks. Embraer says that this will lead to an additional 15 days of flying time over a 10 year period when compared to the existing E-jets.

E175-E2 test flight
The aircraft is 75% brand new. Photo: Embraer

Compared to the original E175, the E2 has 75% brand new systems. These include a new Pratt & Whitney PW1700G ultra high bypass ratio engine, full fly by wire controls, new landing gear and a new wing.

Are you excited to see the baby E2 take to the skies for the first time? Let us know in the comments.