Embraer ERJ-145 / ERJ-135 / ERJ-140

Embraer ERJ-145 / ERJ-135 / ERJ-140

The Embraer ERJ-145 is a twin-engine regional jet airliner seating up to 50 passengers. It became a tremendous sales success for the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer. Shortened versions are the ERJ-135 and ERJ-140.

Embraer started the development of a regional passenger jet in the late 1980s. On the drawing boards originally appeared a stretched jet version of the EMB-120 Brasilia turboprop with a straight wing and two turbofan engines mounted in the same position as the turboprops of the Brasilia, forward and over the wing. However, because the design didn't match the performance targets, Embraer had to drop the idea of maximum commonality with the Brasilia.

Later designs showed a swept wing and engines under the wing, but in the end, Embraer adopted a configuration with two Rolls-Royce (Allison) AE-3007A turbofan engines at the rear of the fuselage and a T-tail. The fuselage kept the cross section of the Brasilia offering room for three abreast seating (2+1). The cockpit is fitted with a five-screen electronic flight instrument system (EFIS).

The Embraer ERJ-145 took off for its maiden flight on 11 August 1995 and in December 1996, the US regional airline Continental Express became the first operator of the type. Embraer developed variants with extended range (ER), longer range (LR) and extra long range (XR), plus several variants with different take-off weights.

The ERJ-135 and ERJ-140 are shortened versions of the ERJ-145, seating 37 and 44 passengers respectively. The ERJ-135 flew for the first time on 4 July 1998 and the ERJ-140 on 27 June 2000. The Legacy is a corporate version of the ERJ-135. Embraer also developed military variants, like the EMB-145SA with a large surveillance radar on its back, the EMB-145AEW Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, the EMB-145RS for remote sensing and the EMB-145MP/ASW for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare. In 2004 a second production line was opened in Harbin in China.

More than 900 aircraft of all ERJ-versions have been sold, mostly ERJ-145s. 108 were ERJ-135s and Embraer built only 74 ERJ-140s for two airlines: American Eagle (59) and Chautauqau (15). Production of the airliner versions have come to an almost stand-still. Most newly manufactured aircraft are Legacy business jets.

Embraer ERJ-145LR Specifications

Wingspan: 20.04 m (65 ft 9 in). Length: 29.87 m (98 ft 0 in). Height: 6.76 m (22 ft 2in).
Empty weight:
12,114 kg (26,707). Max. take-off weight:
22,000 kg (48,502 lb).
Accommodation: 50 passengers. Range: 2,873 km (1,550 nm). Cruise speed: 828 km/h (447 kts).
Engines: two Rolls-Royce AE3007-A1E turbofans (36.33 kN - 8,169 lb).

Embraer E-140LR Specifications

Wingspan: 20.04 m (65 ft 9 in). Length: 28.45 m (93 ft 4 in). Height: 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in).
Empty weight:
11,808 kg (26,032 lb). Max. take-off weight: 21,100 kg (46,518 lb).
Accommodation: 44 passengers. Range: 3,058 km (1,650 nm). Cruise speed: 828 km/h (447 kts).

Engines: two Rolls-Royce AE3007-A1/3 turbofans (33.03 kN - 7,426 lb).

Embraer E-135LR Specifications

Wingspan: 20.04 m (65 ft 9 in). Length: 26.33 m (86 ft 5 in). Height: 6.76 m (22 ft 02 in).
Empty weight: 11,501 kg (25,355 lb). Max. take-off weight: 20,000 kg (44, 092 lb).
Accommodation: 37 passengers. Range: 3,241 km (1,750 nm). Cuise speed: 828 km/h (447 kts).

Engines: two Rolls-Royce AE3007-A1/3 turbofans (33.03 kN - 7,426 lb).