Newly-shot video shows Embraer E175-E2 on inaugural flight.

The newest member of the Embraer E-jets E2 family of passenger aircraft took to the air for the first time on Thursday as it kicks off a rigorous 24-month flight test campaign. The E175-E2 is the third member of the E-Jets E2 family and conducted its inaugural flight at the company’s production facility in São José dos Campos. Watch the E175-E2 inaugural flight: [video width="640" height="360" mp4="https://cdn.airlineratings.com/uploads/Newscut_Primeiro-voo-E175-E2_121219-V2.mp4"][/video] The manufacturer, which is soon to become majority-owned by Boeing, will use three E175-E2s for the certification process. The first and second prototypes will be used for aerodynamic, performance and system tests while the third will be used to validate maintenance tasks and will be outfitted with interior furnishings. READ: Call for crackdown on killer Lithium batteries. The inaugural flight took off at 11:07 am local time from a runway adjacent to Embraer’s Faria Lima complex with two pilots and two flight engineers on board and flew for two hours and 18 minutes. It took off and landed with fly-by-wire controls in normal mode and the crew evaluated aircraft performance, flight quality and systems behavior “Today’s flight of the E175-E2 marks the completion of our vision to produce a family of new-generation commercial aircraft that bring unparalleled cost savings to our customers, exceptional comfort for their passengers, and fewer emissions for the planet,” said Embraer Commercial Aviation chief executive John Slattery. “The E190-E2 and the E195-E2 are already stellar performers. The E175-E2 is just as impressive. We’re eager to get working on certification. “ The E175-E2 has one additional row of seats compared to the first-generation E175 and can be configured with 80 seats in two classes, or up to 90 in a single class. About 75 percent of the aircraft’s systems are new, including the Pratt & Whitney GTF PW1700G ultra-high bypass ratio engines, a redesigned wing, full fly-by-wire controls and new landing gear. Embraer estimates the new plane will save up to 16 percent in fuel and 25 percent in maintenance costs per seat compared to the E175. It also notes the E2 family has the longest maintenance intervals in the single-aisle jet category with 10,000 flight hours for basic checks and no calendar limit for typical E-Jet operations. This means an additional 15 days of aircraft utilization over a period of ten years compared to current-generation E-Jets.