Why Embraer’s New Turboprop Has Its Engines At The Back

In August, Embraer released its latest iteration of its highly anticipated new turboprop product. Set to be officially launched at some point next year (complete with a name), there is a targeted entry into service date of 2027.

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Photos: Embraer

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[corisco]

"This was clearly a deliberate decision"
Thanks for clearing that up. Otherwise, one might have thought that the engines decided on their own to reposition themselves.

[lohphat]

Also, in an engine-out situation, the yaw component of the remaining powered engine is less as the turning moment arm is shorter since it's closer to the center-line.

[VisibilityFoggy]

Embraer just keeps coming out with awesome aircraft after awesome aircraft. I really, really wish they'd jump in and disrupt the market with a true 737/A320 competitor.

[MaggieKeizai]

Anything that makes turboprops less terrible to fly on is a good idea in my book. Good job, Embraer.

[RobtheAviator]

Embraer makes great products. I flew the E175 for a now defunct regional in the US. I fly the A320 now and I still think the E175 was better.

[chish]

I am surprised that no one mentioned the big benefit of having an uncluttered wing which not only makes both design and manufacturing easier but offers performance benefits.

[peterprokop]

I would assume that it also helps to have more laminar flow on the wings, reducing drag and fuel consumption.

[virtuousvoice]

That is interesting. T-tails with engines in the back are coming back into style!

[rlyle]

"This was clearly a deliberate decision by the design team..." Really? It didnt design itself?

[adb]

This has so much of the CBA 123 Vector on in. But bigger. The CBA 123 Vector was a Collaboration between Brazil and Argentina to develop and advance regional 19-seats turboprops in the 90's. It featured rear fuselage-mounted turboprop engines with 6-blades counter-rotating props in pusher config which placed them so far back that the plane was quieter than the 737 Classics of the time, advanced aerodynamics with supercritical airfoils, super advanced avionics and systems (for the time) including EFIS, AHRS, EICAS and FADEC, 300+ knots of cruise airspeed and a service ceiling of 35000 ft. Oh, and it had an amazingly sexy ramp appeal that made you shout "I want to fly in that". 3 prototypes were built, 1 was unfinished at 80%, 2 of them flew, one of them at the 1990 Farnborough Air Show. The project was a failure and a total loss for Argentina, For Brazil, however, it gave Embraer the maturity and experience in aircraft development, especially regarding advanced systems, that helped them succeed with the first generation of ERJ jets. And evidently they are still using the ideas and lessons learned today (and why wouldn't they).

[mcukierman]

It also helps that Embraer developers the CBA 123 in the 80s, with turboprop in the back. This plane had 2 test models built, .so the knowledge is there.

[larrysmith]

This configuration was tried many years ago. I think they experimented on MD 80s. Very efficient, quiet and reliable. Public hated it because they wanted jets. It was a jet but with props.

[salvaahthesageofficial]

I like how innovative Embraer is being with this new aircraft
I'll definitely be excited to hear more about it

[EnergeticWaves]

Embraer is a great company. Spent a week there once!

[ariefbudi]

from the looks i prefer to ride on those thing than the old ATR. Espesialy if its efficiency means cheaper ticket than regular jet

[Papershields]

I love turboprops. I fly on them whenever I get the chance, which is unfortunately becoming rarer and rarer.

[inganess]

Single engine failure should be a little less exciting due to the engines being closer to the center of thrust

[bubuluke]

I flew in an ATR once and loved the experience. The engine growled and the cabin was modest. Only one flight attendant who was having a ball.

[wernerarroyo]

Amazing the turnaround from Embraer after the breakout with Boeing!

[kzhd]

I recall a proposal almost exactly like this back during the original oil crisis in the 1970s -- it was a pair of pusher turboprops essentially replacing the aft-mounted jet engines on a DC-9. The goal then was more fuel efficiency over the then-current jet engines, with the pusher configuration (and scimitar-shaped propellor blades) to get the noise as far aft of the cabin as possible.