An extraordinary internal quietness for a propeller aeroplane is the lasting impression left by the Embraer/FAMA CBA-123 Vector. It offers jet-like feel and sound levels for an aircraft which, unlike Beech's and Piaggio's pushers, is big enough to be a commuter.

Flight International flew executive furnished second prototype Vector for a brief evaluation at le Bourget in June. The aircraft had already completed 400h flight testing, with certification planned for March next year. Although nothing is perfect, and Embraer has still some developing to do on the Vector, it did not leave any bad impressions.

Development is evident from the figures: maximum take-off weight is now up by 500kg, increasing full passenger range by 740km (400nm) but adding 920ft (280m) take-off distance. The commuter version could seat a maximum of 19 passengers.

The low-set, one-piece, super critical, high-aspect-ratio wing passes through an under-fuselage fairing, also in Kevlar and glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) Its mean aerodynamic chord is only 1.632m and leading-edge sweep a mere 6 degrees. The tailplane leading edge is swept at 21 degrees, with a midpoint break, and the fin rakes at 50 degrees. Kevlar and GRP/Nomex leading edges have silver Goodrich de-icing boots, which are operated automatically by an ice-thickness detector. Control surfaces, gear doors and engine cowlings are carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP).

A striking angular feature is the 16dihedral of the 15 swept engine pylons. Made in CFRP, their titanium leading edges duct engine bleed air for precooling and so are continuously de-iced (as on the Beech Starship, also a pusher).

A small central intake passes air up through an S-duct to the top of the engine. The cowling doors are hinged at the pylon side, with easy access to the bottom of the engine, where most line-replaceable units are mounted.

An eductor fan is incorporated in the flat-backed propeller spinner to ventilate the nacelles. The two engine-exhaust stacks de-ice the blades, which are lit at night by two lights in the fin.

The cylindrical cabin has 1.76m headroom, just less than that of the Beech 1900D and Jetstream-31, but its width of 2.1m is 0.25m more than the Jetstream's.

The airliner-sized cockpit - 30cm longer even than the Brasilia's, whose nose section and fuselage diameter the Vector shares -has excellent pilot access; the seats run outboard at rear stowage. The jump seat rotates to stow behind the co-pilot. Amply sized foot rests are fitted at the base of the 8 raked instrument panel. The side windows are good for clear vision or escape and the windscreen offers clear all-round vision. Deep side pockets hold small manuals, with bag space to the rear; there is a lit mapholder on the control wheel.

Luiz Madureira, Embraer's deputy chief test pilot, first described the automatics. The electronic systems controls and engine instruments integrate into an almost workfree standard operation.

Twin attitude and heading reference systems (AHRS) support the Collins electronic flight instrument system displays, but they are less exotic in content than the engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS)...