The fuselage, empennage and wing sections of the first aircraft are being completed prior to assembly at a specially built production site. The final body join, expected to take around three weeks, starts the clock ticking on a fast-paced development-and-test program, which is set to begin with first flight at the end of this year and entry into service with the Brazilian air force (Forca Aerea Brasileira-FAB) in 2016.
The twin turbofan-powered airlifter was launched in 2009 when the Brazilian government signed a development contract with Embraer. The company, which is building the initial two KC-390 prototypes under a firm contract, expects negotiations to be completed in coming months. Embraer holds letters of intent for a further 32 aircraft from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic and Portugal.
aviationweek
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