Embraer/FMA CBA-123 Vector

The Embraer / FMA CBA 123 Vector was a project for a turboprop aircraft of the Brazilian Embraer and the Argentine FMA for 19 passengers. " CBA " stands for " Brazil- Argentina Cooperation". The aircraft was one of the most modern turboprop aircraft of all time, technologically to only compare with the Dornier 328.

History

From 1985, it seemed that would grow the economic relationship of the countries South America through the mediation of Mercosur. A year later, a project of the two countries, Brazil and Argentina was the cooperation for a new aircraft of Embraer and FMA companies. The costs and the development of the aircraft was divided between Embraer and FMA in a 2:1 ratio. The aircraft was developed as a high-technology turboprop, which should be certified according to the rules of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The drive propeller should be used, which should be attached to the rear; this would thus a most unusual and rare engine assembly, which should ensure a high level of passenger comfort. As an airfoil wings were used with supercritical profile. Following the trend of the time, a glass cockpit and a fully digital engine controller has been installed.

The first prototype flew on 18 July 1990. Presented publicly for the first time the aircraft was on 30 July of the same year. They were joined by the then President Fernando Collor de Mello (Brazil) and Carlos Menem (Argentina ).

But the project was ill-fated and was struggling with the same problems as the similar Dornier 328: The plane was due to the high technology standard for its time simply too modern and therefore too expensive - the price of a plane at this time was five million dollars - besides, it was simply undersized for only 19 passengers. 300 million U.S. dollars cost the development of vectors, two prototypes were built. For nothing but the investments were not, because the new technologies helped Embraer a few years later, ERJ -145 family to save costs in the development of the following to the Vector airplane Embraer program.

Specifications