(Photo by Embraer)
Late last year, Brazilian business jet maker Embraer announced a marketing coup for the China market: They brought Jackie Chan on-board as both an aircraft owner and as their brand ambassador.
Jackie’s new aircraft is an Embraer Embraer Legacy 650 that is painted with a red and yellow dragon logo along with his distinctive personal logo on the tail. That alone made it an important display centrepiece at the Singapore Airshow for executive aircraft maker Embraer.
Jackie’s Legacy 650 has a range of 3,900 nautical miles (7,223 kilometres) – meaning he can fly non-stop from Beijing to Dubai or from Hong Kong to Australia. The aircraft is also divided into three distinct cabin zones for him to work, play and rest. Thanks to high tech features such as wi-fi, busy business or movie moguls can get straight to work once aboard.
It should be mentioned that Embraer Embraer only entered the executive aviation market in 2001 but today it accounts for some 19 percent of total global executive jet deliveries thanks in part to offering a full line of executive jets from entry level aircraft for businessmen and movie stars to ultra-large aircraft for those who, like Jackie, have achieved mogul status.
I had the opportunity to fly on an Legacy 650 last year (not Jackie’s but the same model and configuration). We went from Farnborough up to Dundee for lunch at the famous Gleneagles hotel and golf club.
The cabin is very comfortable and has lots of space to stand up and move around. The seats recline and even lie flat to make beds for longer trips. It’s a very nice place to be.
Fold out entertainment systems and tables mean that you can get some work done. The seats slide forward and back on rails so you can tuck yourself neatly under the tables. It took me a while to figure this out until the flight attendant showed me. At first, I just assumed business jet owners had longer arms than me!
The larger four-seat table is good for meetings or relaxing meals.
When I was kid, captains often invited passengers up to the cockpit but these days this view is much rarer and more coveted. The cockpit itself boasts all the latest systems.
We taxied past the RAF’s famous Red Arrows display team on our way out of Farnborough. Since everyone on board was an aviation enthusiast this was a nice treat. They even park neatly.
Dundee Airport has a (very) short runway and the 650 showed its flexibility by getting in and out without any stress.
(Matthew Stibbe - Forbes)
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