Embraer completed on Thursday the maiden flight of the first C-390 Millennium destined for the Hungarian Air Force.
The flight departed from Gavião Peixoto, Brazil, where the company maintains the aircraft’s assembly line, and lasted approximately four hours.
According to Embraer, the multi-role aircraft will undergo a period of testing before entering service in the European country.
Hungary was the third country to select the C-390, after Brazil and Portugal. The agreement was signed in November 2020 and includes two aircraft that will feature an Intensive Care Unit in their configuration, an essential resource for carrying out humanitarian missions.
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“This maiden flight is a major milestone for the Hungarian C-390 program. The C-390 Millennium is receiving international recognition on the back of its remarkable operational performance and capabilities, and Embraer is ramping up production to address increasing market demand,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security .
The Hungarian C-390 follows a similar paint scheme to the Portuguese one, in a shade of gray and black markings. The aircraft was given the designation 610, although it is apparently flying a Brazilian provisional registration, PT-ZHP.
Since choosing Hungary, Millennium has accumulated orders from other countries, including the Netherlands, Austria and the Czech Republic in Europe.
Developed to replace the recently decommissioned C-130 Hercules in the Brazilian Air Force, the C-390 Millennium carries more payload (26 tons) and flies faster (470 knots) and further.
It is also an aircraft that can perform aerial refueling missions in an uncomplicated manner as all units are prepared for this mission, simply by installing pods and hoses on the wings.
The current fleet of C-390 aircraft in operation has accumulated more than 11,500 flight hours, with operational availability around 80% and mission completion rates above 99%, Embraer explained.
