Fractional provider Flexjet expects to take delivery of its first Embraer Legacy 500 by the end of this month, company CEO Michael Silvestro told AIN. In May, Flexjet placed an order for an unspecified number of fly-by-wire Legacy 450 and 500 midsize jets to augment the company’s order for 60 Bombardier Learjet 85s, a program now in limbo after Bombardier “paused” it in January.

Silvestro declined to reveal how many fly-by-wire Legacy 450s and 500s Flexjet has on order, though he did say the fractional provider will take delivery of five Legacy 500s by year-end. Deliveries of the Legacy 450, which recently earned its Brazil, FAA and EASA certifications, will begin in June next year for Flexjet . All will be LXi models, meaning they will have specially outfitted "bespoke" interiors exclusive to Flexjet, as well as onboard Wi-Fi capability.

“We’re excited about [the Legacy 500],” Silvestro said. “It really rounds out our fleet, and I can’t wait to get it in the program.” Flexjet crews have already completed Legacy 450/500 training and customer flights in the first Legacy 500 will start later next month, following conformity testing, he said. Flexjet is currently evaluating if the Legacy 450/500s will be added to its recently announced Red Label program.