Embraer Legacy 450 sets speed records between California and Hawaii with AirSprint

Embraer’s Legacy 450 mid-light business jet set speed records on its recent flights between California and Hawaii, according to the National Aeronautic Association (NAA). The Hawaii trip was a first for both the aircraft and the passengers from Calgary-based AirSprint, which operates Canada’s largest fractional aircraft fleet and was the Canadian launch customer for the Legacy 450. The customer demonstration trip with Embraer crew departed from Oakland to Maui with two pilots, four passengers and 300 lb (136 kg) of baggage, and returned to San Francisco. The first flight departed from Oakland International Airport (KOAK) on December 5, at 11:53am (PST), with fuel reserves in excess of those required for NBAA IFR as well as for critical operations. The flight lasted 5 hours and 14 minutes, covering a distance of 2,428 miles (3,907 km), recording its longest flight to date. Only 25 minutes into the flight, the aircraft had already reached its planned cruising altitude of 43,000 ft. The aircraft landed at Maui’s Kahului Airport (PHOG) at 3:04pm (HST) with ample fuel reserves of 2,500 lb (1,134 kg), having consumed only 8,700 lb (3,946 kg) at approximately 243 gallons per hour of flight. The highest speed achieved during this flight was 450 knots or 518 mph (834 km/h), sustaining average headwinds of 58 knots. According to the NAA, the aircraft achieved an average speed of 449.91 mph, establishing the speed record for this course. The return flight from Hawaii began on December 6, at 8:05am (HST), with only three passengers and the same amount of baggage. The flight lasted 4 hours and 27 minutes, covering a distance of 2,379 miles (3,829 km). The aircraft landed at San Francisco International Airport (KSFO) at 2:54pm (PST) with excess fuel reserves of 3,300 lb (1,497 kg). The highest speed achieved during this flight was 533 knots or 613 mph (987 km/h), with average tailwinds of 24 knots. The NAA has confirmed that the average speed of 525.89 mph attained by the aircraft is a record for this course.