Brazil's Aviation Champion — A Complete Product Legacy
By December 2018, Embraer had established itself as the undisputed leader of the sub-150-seat jetliner market, with 100 operators flying aircraft from the ERJ and E-Jet families worldwide. But Embraer's story extends far beyond regional jets — it spans military transports, light attack aircraft, business aviation, agricultural utility, and licensed Piper localizations that shaped Brazilian general aviation for decades.
This article traces the complete Embraer product lineage, drawing on primary-source documentation held in the Online Aviation Library archive.
Commercial Aviation
Former — The Turboprop Era
EMB 110 Bandeirante (18 passengers)
The Bandeirante — Portuguese for pioneer — was Embraer's founding commercial product. A twin-turboprop utility transport, it entered service in the 1970s and became the backbone of Brazilian regional aviation, later exported across Latin America, Africa, and beyond.
EMB 120 Brasilia (30 passengers)
The pressurised 30-seat Brasilia followed as a significant step up in passenger comfort and range, serving commuter routes across North America and Europe through the 1980s and 1990s.
ERJ Family
The ERJ (Embraer Regional Jet) family marked Embraer's decisive move into pure-jet regional aviation, covering the 37–50 seat segment with strong commonality:
- ERJ 135 — 37 passengers
- ERJ 140 — 44 passengers
- ERJ 145 — 50 passengers
The ERJ 145 became the family's commercial anchor, operated by carriers including American Eagle, Continental Express, and Luxair, powered by Rolls-Royce AE 3007 engines.
Embraer/FMA CBA 123 Vector (prototype)
Developed jointly with Argentina's FMA as a pusher-propeller commuter concept, the CBA 123 Vector remained a prototype but contributed aerodynamic research to later Embraer programmes.
Current — The E-Jet Families
E-Jet Family
Launched in the early 2000s, the E-Jet family was a clean-sheet design offering a wider 2-2 fuselage cross-section — mainline passenger comfort at regional economics:
- E170 — 66–78 passengers
- E175 — 76–88 passengers
- E190 — 96–114 passengers
- E195 — 100–124 passengers
The E175 became dominant in North America, engineered precisely to fit within scope clause constraints at 76 seats — a strategic masterstroke that locked in structural demand from major network carriers.
E-Jet E2 Family
The E2 programme entered service in 2018, bringing Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, a redesigned wing with winglets, and a fully updated flight deck — with fuel burn improvements of up to 25% over the first generation:
- E175-E2 — 80–90 passengers
- E190-E2 — 97–114 passengers
- E195-E2 — 120–146 passengers
The E195-E2 competes directly with the Airbus A220-300 and the lower end of the A320neo family, offering significantly lower trip costs on thinner routes.
Military Aviation
Current
- EMB 314 Super Tucano — A turboprop light attack and advanced trainer, widely exported and combat-proven in counter-insurgency operations across Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.
- C-390 Millennium — A twin-turbofan medium military transport, designed to replace the Hercules C-130 in several air forces. Operated by Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Austria.
- R-99 — An airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform based on the ERJ 145 airframe, operated by the Brazilian Air Force.
- JAS 39 Gripen E/F — Embraer participates as an industrial partner in the production of the Saab Gripen E/F for the Brazilian Air Force under a technology transfer agreement.
Former
- EMB 111 Bandeirante — A light transport and maritime patrol variant of the original Bandeirante platform.
- EMB 312 Tucano — A turboprop trainer that preceded the Super Tucano, widely exported and licence-built by Short Brothers in the UK for the RAF.
- AMX International AMX — A subsonic ground-attack jet developed jointly with Aermacchi and Aeritalia for the Brazilian and Italian air forces.
- MFT-LF — A trainer and light attack prototype that did not enter production.
- Embraer Xavante — A localised variant of the Aermacchi MB-326, built under licence for the Brazilian Air Force.
Business Jets
Current
- Phenom 100 — Very light jet; entry-level business aviation with single-pilot certification.
- Phenom 300 — Light jet; consistently one of the world's best-selling business jets by deliveries.
- Praetor 500 — Mid-size jet; successor to the Legacy 450 with intercontinental range improvements.
- Praetor 600 — Super mid-size jet; successor to the Legacy 500, capable of transatlantic range.
Former
- Legacy 450 — Mid-size jet, predecessor to the Praetor 500.
- Legacy 500 — Super mid-size jet, predecessor to the Praetor 600.
- Legacy 600/650 — Large cabin jet developed from the ERJ 145 airframe.
- Lineage 1000 — Ultra-large VIP jet developed from the E-Jet E190 airframe.
Utility Aircraft
Current
- EMB 202 Ipanema — A single-engine agricultural aircraft (cropduster), in continuous production since 1970 and the first certified aircraft in the world to run on 100% ethanol fuel.
Former
- EMB 121 Xingu — A pressurised general utility twin turboprop, used by the French Air Force and Navy as a multi-engine trainer alongside civilian operators.
Piper Localizations
Under a long-standing agreement with Piper Aircraft, Embraer produced localised variants of several Piper designs for the Brazilian market, supporting the growth of general aviation infrastructure across the country.
Current
- Embraer Seneca — Based on the Piper PA-34 Seneca.
- Embraer Corisco / Tupi — Based on the Piper PA-28 Archer II.
Former
- Embraer Carioca / Minuano / Sertanejo — Based on the Piper PA-32.
- Embraer Navajo — Based on the Piper PA-31 Navajo.
Primary-Source Documentation at OAL
The Online Aviation Library holds archival documentation covering multiple Embraer families, including flight manuals, maintenance references, and illustrated parts catalogues sourced from original manufacturer publications. These are static-copy archival editions, fixed at their original publication dates — intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use.
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