Embraer E-Jet family. The Embraer E-Jet family is a series of four-abreast, narrow-body, short- to medium-range, twin-engined jet airliners designed and produced by Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer.

The E-Jet was designed to complement Embraer’s earlier ERJ family, the company’s first jet-powered regional aircraft. With a capacity of 66 to 124 passengers, the E-Jets were significantly larger than any aircraft Embraer had developed before that time. The project was unveiled in early 1997 and formally introduced at the 1999 Paris Air Show. On 19 February 2002, the first E-Jet prototype completed its maiden flight, and production began later that year. 

The first E170 was delivered to LOT Polish Airlines on 17 March 2004. Initial rollout issues were quickly overcome, and Embraer rapidly expanded product support for better global coverage. Larger variants, the E190 and E195, entered service later in 2004, while a stretched version of the E170, the E175, was introduced in mid-2005.

The E-Jet series achieved commercial success, primarily due to their ability to serve lower-demand routes while offering many of the amenities and features of larger jets. The E-Jet family is used by both mainline and regional airlines worldwide, with particular popularity among regional airlines in the United States. It also served as the foundation for the  Lineage 1000 business jet.

In the 2010s, Embraer introduced the second-generation E-Jet E2 family, featuring more fuel-efficient engines. However, as of 2023, the first-generation E175 remains in production to meet the needs of U.S. regional airlines, which are restricted from operating the newer generation due to scope clause limitations.

Development

Background
During the 1990s, the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer had introduced the ERJ family, its first jet-powered regional jet. As demand for the ERJ series proved strong even early on, the company decided that it could not rely on one family of aircraft alone and examined its options for producing a complementary regional jet, including designs that would be larger and more advanced than its preceding aircraft.

During March 1997, Embraer made its first public disclosure that it was studying a new 70-seat aircraft, which was initially referred to as the EMB 170; this reveal was issued concurrently with the announcement of the development of the ERJ 135. As originally conceived, the EMB 170 was to feature a new wing and larger-diameter fuselage mated to the nose and cockpit of the ERJ 145. The proposed derivative would have cost $450 million to develop.
While Alenia, Aerospatiale and British Aerospace through AI(R) were studying the Airjet 70 based on the ATR 42/72 fuselage for a  range, AI(R) and Embraer were studying a joint development of a 70-seater jet since their separate projects were not yet launched.

In February 1999, Embraer announced it had abandoned the derivative approach in favour of an all-new design. On 14 June 1999, the E-Jet family was formally launched at the Paris Air Show, initially using the twin designations ERJ-170 and ERJ-190; these were subsequently changed to Embraer 170 and Embraer 190 respectively. The launch customers for the airliner were the French airline Régional, which placed ten orders and five options for the E170, and the Swiss airline Crossair, which had ordered 30 E170s and 30 E190s.

During July 2000, production of components for the construction of both the prototype and test airframes began. Difficulties with the advanced avionics selected for the aircraft, supplied by the American company Honeywell, led to delays in the development schedule; originally, the first flight had been set to take place during 2000. On 29 October 2001, the first prototype PP-XJE was rolled out at São José dos Campos, Brazil.

Intro flight
On 19 February 2002, the first prototype performed its maiden flight, marking the beginning of a multi-year flight test campaign involving a total of six prototypes. In May 2002, the aircraft was displayed to the public at the Regional Airline Association convention. During that same year, full-rate production of the E-Jet commenced; this activity was centred around a recently-completed factory built by Embraer at its São José dos Campos base.

After a positive response from the airline community, Embraer launched the E175, which stretched the fuselage of the E170 by . During June 2003, the first flight of the E175 took place. In April 2003, jetBlue placed an order for 100 Embraer 190s, the deliveries of which commenced two years later.

Following several delays in the certification process, the E170 received type certification from the civil aviation authorities of Brazil, Europe and the United States in February 2004.

Production
In 2008, the 400th E-jet was delivered to Republic Airways in the United States. In September 2009, the 600th E-jet was delivered to LOT Polish Airlines.

On 10 October 2012, Embraer delivered the 900th E-Jet to Kenya Airways, its 12th E-Jet. On 13 September 2013, the delivery of the 1,000th E-Jet, an E175 to Republic Airways for American Eagle, was marked by a ceremony held at the Embraer factory in São José dos Campos, with a special "1,000th E-Jet" decal above the cabin windows.

On 6 December 2017, the 1,400th E-Jet was delivered, an E175; it had a backlog of over 150 firm orders on 30 September 2017.

On 18 December 2018, Embraer delivered the 1,500th E-Jet, an E175 to Alaska Air subsidiary Horizon Air, as Embraer claims an 80% market share of the North American 76-seaters. By this point, the fleet had completed 25 million flight hours in 18 million cycles (an average of  h) with a 99.9% dependability.

E-Jets Second Generation

In November 2011, Embraer announced that it would develop revamped versions of the E-Jet to be called the E-Jet E2 family. The new jets would feature improved engines that would be more fuel efficient and take advantage of new technologies. Beyond the new engines, the E2 family would also feature new wings, improved avionics, and other improvements to the aircraft. The move came amid a period of high global fuel costs and better positions Embraer as competitors introduced new and more fuel efficient jets, including the Mitsubishi Regional Jet. The new aircraft family also includes a much larger variant, the E195-E2 capable of carrying between 120 and 146 passengers. This jet better positions Embraer against the competing Airbus A220 aircraft. The PW1000G was previously selected for use on competing aircraft.

In January 2013, Embraer selected the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan engine to power the E2 family.

On 28 February 2018, The E190-E2 received its type certificate from the ANAC, FAA and EASA. It was scheduled to enter service in the second quarter of 2018.

Design

The Embraer E-Jet family is composed of two main commercial families and a business jet variant. The smaller E170 and E175 make up the base model aircraft, while the E190 and E195 are stretched versions, being powered by different engines and furnished with larger wing, horizontal stabilizer, and landing gear structures. From the onset, the E-Jet had been designed to be stretched. The E170 and E175 share 95% commonality, as do the E190 and E195; the two families share near 89% commonality, maintaining identical fuselage cross-sections and avionics fitouts. The E190 and E195 possess capacities similar to the initial versions of the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and Boeing 737. All members of the E-Jet family are available in baseline, long range (LR), and advanced range (AR) models, the latter being intended for long routes with limited passenger numbers.

The smaller members of the E-Jet family are powered by the General Electric CF34-8E turbofan engine, each capable of generating up to  of thrust, while the stretched aircraft are outfitted with the more powerful General Electric CF34-10E, capable of producing a maximum of  thrust. These engines have been designed to minimise noise and emission outputs, exceeding the requirements established by the International Civil Aviation Organization; the relatively low acoustic signature has enabled the E-Jet to be operated from airports that have imposed strict noise restrictions, such as London City Airport. The type is also equipped with winglets that reduce fuel burn and thereby improve operational efficiency.

The E-Jet family is equipped with a fly-by-wire flight control system. The flight deck is furnished with the Honeywell Primus Epic Electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) suite and has been designed to facilitate a common type rating, enabling flight crews to be readily moved between different members of the family without the need for any retraining/recertifying and providing greater flexibility to operators. Early operations of the E-Jet were frequently troubled by avionics issues; by September 2008, Honeywell had issued software updates that sought to rectify the encountered issues.

The main cabin is configured with four-abreast seating (2+2) as standard, and features a "double-bubble" design that Embraer has purpose-developed for its commercial passenger jets to provide stand-up headroom. The dimensions of the cabin were intentionally comparable to the narrowbody airliners of Airbus and Boeing to permit greater comfort levels than most regional aircraft. Considerable attention to detail was reportedly paid by Embraer to elevating the type's passenger appeal. Many operators have chosen to outfit their aircraft with amenities such as Wi-Fi and at-seat power outlets. The windows of the E-Jet family are relatively large at  in comparison to most contemporary airliners, such as the  windows of the Boeing 787.

United and SkyWest have begun retrofitting their jointly operated E175 aircraft with larger "wheels first" overhead bins which can accommodate up to an extra 29 bags, an 80 percent increase in space. The airlines will modify 50 aircraft with the new bins in 2024, and if successful, plan to retrofit more than 150 aircraft by the end of 2026.

Operational history

In early March 2004, the first E170 deliveries were made to LOT Polish Airlines, other customers to receive early deliveries were Alitalia and US Airways-subsidiary MidAtlantic Airways.

On 17 March 2004, LOT operated the first commercial flight of an E-Jet, which flew from Warsaw to Vienna. Within four years, LOT was sufficiently pleased with the type to order 12 additional E175s. Launch customer Crossair had in the meantime ceased to exist after its takeover of Swissair, leading to the cancellation of these orders. Furthermore, fellow launch customer Régional chose to defer its order, not receiving its first E-jet—an E190LR—until 2006.

During July 2005, the first E175 was delivered to Air Canada, entering revenue service with the airline that same month.

In April 2013, Air Canada began the transfer of its 15-strong E175 fleet to subsidiary Sky Regional Airlines; this reorganisation was completed during September 2013. By July 2020, approximately 25 million passengers had flown on the Canadian fleet over a cumulative 650,000 flight hours, while a total of 25 E175s were in service on both domestic and transborder flights into the US, which were then being flown under the Air Canada Express branding. In March 2021, Air Canada announced its intention to consolidate all regional flying under the Jazz branding, thereby ending its affiliation between Sky Regional Airlines and Air Canada; accordingly, all of the E175s were transferred to Jazz.

Early operations of the E-Jet were not problem-free: the American operator JetBlue reported engine troubles with its fleet, while cold start hydraulic issues were experienced by Air Canada. Embraer had to undertake a rapid expansion of its product support network in order to satisfy the needs of its mainline operators; by October 2014, the company had two directly-owned service centers, alongside nine authorized centers and 26 independent MRO organizations around the globe, while directly employing 1,200 staff for product support alone. In response to customer demands, the company also developed web-based support.

BA CityFlyer, a subsidiary of British Airways, operates a fleet of 21 E190s, typically flying routes from London City Airport to various destinations in the United Kingdom and continental Europe. CityFlyer has publicly stated that a key factor in it opting for the E-Jet over competitors such as the De Havilland Canada Dash 8 was its greater speed. The procurement of E-Jets by CityFlier led to other competing British regional airliners taking interest in the type; on 20 July 2010, Flybe ordered 35 E175s valued at US$1.3 billion (£850 million), along with options for 65 more (valued at $2.3 bn/£1.5 bn) and purchase rights for a further 40 (valued at $1.4 bn/£0.9 bn), deliveries of which commenced in November 2011.

On 6 November 2008, the longest flight of an E190 was flown by JetBlue from Anchorage Airport to Buffalo International Airport over , a re-positioning flight after a two-month charter for vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

On 14 October 2017, an Airlink E190-100IGW with 78 passengers aboard inaugurated the first scheduled commercial airline service in history to Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean, arriving at Saint Helena Airport after a flight of about six hours from Johannesburg, South Africa, with a stop at Windhoek, Namibia. The flight began a once-per-week scheduled service by Airlink between Johannesburg and Saint Helena using E190 aircraft. The inaugural flight was only the second commercial flight to Saint Helena in the island's history, and the first since a chartered Airlink Avro RJ85 landed at Saint Helena Airport on 3 May 2017.

Variants

E170

The E170 is the smallest aircraft in the E-Jet family and was the first to enter revenue service in March 2004. As of 2017, the E170 went out of production. The Embraer 170 typically seats around 72 passengers in a typical single class configuration, 66 in a dual class configuration, and up to 78 in a high-density configuration. The E170 directly competed with the Bombardier CRJ700 and loosely with the turboprop Bombardier Q400.

The jet is powered with General Electric CF34-8E engines of 14,200 pounds (62.28 kN) thrust each.

E175 

The E175 is a slightly stretched version of the E170 and first entered revenue service with launch customer Air Canada in July 2005. The Embraer 175 typically seats around 78 passengers in a typical single-class configuration, 76 in a dual-class configuration, and up to 88 in a high-density configuration. Like the E170, it is powered by General Electric CF34-8E engines of 14,200 pounds-force (62.28 kN) of thrust each. It competed with the Bombardier CRJ900 in the market segment previously occupied by the earlier BAe 146 and Fokker 70. , it is the only aircraft currently produced in this market segment.

The E175 was initially equipped with the same style of winglets as the rest of the E-Jet family. Starting in 2014, the winglets were made wider and more angled. Those winglets and other changes to the aircraft over time have improved efficiency. Embraer said that aircraft produced after 2017 consume 6.4% less fuel than original E175 aircraft. The angled winglets increase the wingspan from 26 m (85 ft 4 in) to 28.65 m (93 ft 11 in). This winglet change was only made available to the E175 and no other models in the family.

 

In late 2017, Embraer announced the E175SC (special configuration), officially designated as ERJ 170-200 LL, limited to 70 seats like the E170 to take advantage of the E175 performance improvements but still comply with US airline scope clauses limiting operators to 70 seats. Embraer is marketing the E175SC as a replacement for the older 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 with better efficiency and a larger first class.

In 2018, a new E175 had a value of US$27 million, projected to fall to US$3–8 million 13 years later due to their concentration in the US with more than 450 in service out of 560, with Republic and SkyWest operating over 120 each, Compass 35 and Envoy Air 90, after the similar experience with the CRJ200 and ERJ 145 demonstrates the limited remarketing opportunities.

, the E175 remains in production, with strong demand from regional airlines in the United States, which cannot order the newer but heavier E175-E2 due to scope clause restrictions on maximum takeoff weight.

E190

The E190/195 models are larger stretches of the E170/175 models fitted with a new, larger wing, a larger horizontal stabilizer, adding two emergency overwing exits, and a new engine. Embraer 190 is fitted with two underwing-mounted General Electric CF34-10E turbofan engines, rated at . The engines are equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC). The fully redundant, computerized management system continuously optimizes the engine performance resulting in reduced fuel consumption and maintenance requirements. The aircraft carries  of fuel and is fitted with a Parker Hannifin fuel system.

Embraer offered three variants of the E190: the STD (Standard), LR (Long Range) and AR (Advanced Range). The STD served as the base model, while the LR featured a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) that was increased by  while the AR featured an MTOW that was further increased by  compared to LR, allowing more fuel to be carried. This enhancement extended the range by .

The aircraft is equipped with a Hamilton Sundstrand auxiliary power unit and electrical system. The GE CF34-10E, customers can choose between 5 different variants (-10E5, -10E5A1, -10E6, -10E6A1, -10E7), each with different performance and capabilities. It is the only powerplant offered for the aircraft. These aircraft compete with the Bombardier CRJ-1000. It can carry up to 100 passengers in a two-class configuration or up to 124 in the single-class high-density configuration.

On 12 March 2004, the first flight of the E190 took place. The launch customer of the E190 was New York-based low-cost carrier JetBlue with 100 orders options in 2003 and took its first delivery in 2005. 

Air Canada operated 45 E190 aircraft fitted with 9 business-class and 88 economy-class seats as part of its primary fleet. They were retired in May 2020. American Airlines operated E190s until 2020. JetBlue and Georgian Airways operate the E190 as part of their own fleet.

Largest operator of the type is Alliance Airlines with 64 E190s in the fleet which mostly took over from American Airlines and JetBlue to serve the Australian regional market, the rest are Aeroméxico Connect (37), Tianjin Airlines (35), Airlink (29) and KLM Cityhopper (28).

By 2018, early E190s were valued at under US$10 million and could be leased for less than US$100,000 per month, while the most recent aircraft were worth US$30 million and could be leased for less than US$200,000 per month.

E195 

The Embraer 195 is the further stretch version of the Embraer 190, it is fitted with two underwing-mounted General Electric CF34-10E turbofan engines, customers can choose between 5 different variants (-10E5, -10E5A1, -10E6, -10E6A1, -10E7), each with different performance and capabilities. The engines are equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC). The fully redundant, computerized management system continuously optimizes the engine performance resulting in reduced fuel consumption and maintenance requirements. The aircraft carries  of fuel and is fitted with a Parker Hannifin fuel system.

Embraer offered three variants of the E190: the STD (Standard), LR (Long Range) and AR (Advanced Range). The STD served as the base model, while the LR featured a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) that was increased by  while the AR featured a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) that was further increased by  compared to LR, allowing more fuel to be carried. This enhancement extended the range by  for the E195.

The aircraft is equipped with a Hamilton Sundstrand auxiliary power unit and electrical system. The GE CF34-10E, rated at 18,500 lb (82.30 kN), is the only powerplant offered for the aircraft. These aircraft compete with the Airbus A220-100, Boeing 717-200, Boeing 737-500, Boeing 737-600, and the Airbus A318. It can carry up to 100 passengers in a two-class configuration or up to 124 in the single-class high-density configuration.

The first flight of the E195 occurred on December 7, 2004. British low-cost carrier Flybe was the first operator of the E195, had 14 orders and 12 options, and started E195 operations on 22 September 2006. Flybe have since decided that they would remove the aircraft from their fleet in favour of the Dash 8 Q400 and Embraer 175, in an effort to reduce costs, by 2020.

The largest operators of the largest variant in the E-Jet family are Azul Brazilian Airlines (45), Tianjin Airlines (17), Austrian Airlines (17), Air Dolomiti (17) and LOT Polish Airlines (16).

Freighter conversions 
On 7 March 2022, Embraer confirmed their intent to enter the cargo market, offering conversions of E190 and E195 passenger aircraft to freighters. These will make their first flights in 2024, with certification expected later in the year. The E190F will have a payload capacity of , while the E195F’s will be . The company secured its first order in May 2023 for ten aircraft from lessor Nordic Aviation Capital, to be delivered to Astral Aviation as the launch operator.

Embraer Lineage 1000

On 2 May 2006, Embraer announced plans for the business jet variant of the E190, the Embraer Lineage 1000. It has the same structure as the E190, but with an extended range of up to , and luxury seating for up to 19. 

The Lineage 1000 offers two different engine choices, the GE CF34-10E6 and the more powerful CF34-10E7-B. It was certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration on 7 January 2009. The first two production aircraft were delivered in December 2008.

Undeveloped variants
Embraer considered producing an aircraft which was known as the E195X, a stretched version of the E195. It would have seated approximately 130 passengers. The E195X was apparently a response to an American Airlines request for an aircraft to replace its McDonnell Douglas MD-80s. Embraer abandoned plans for the 195X in May 2010, following concerns that its flight range would be too short.

Commercial names and official model designations
The commercial names used for the E170 and E190 families differ from the official model designations, as used (for instance) with the Type-Certificates, and in national registries.

Operators 

, the three largest operators of the E-Jet family were SkyWest Airlines (241), Republic Airways (208), and Envoy Air (152),  operating variably for Alaska Airlines, American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express.

Orders and deliveries
List of Embraer's E-Jet family deliveries and orders:

Accidents and incidents
The E-Jet has been involved in 22 incidents, including nine hull losses:

Accidents with fatalities 

  Henan Airlines Flight 8387 – 44 casualties
 On 24 August 2010, Henan Airlines Flight 8387, an E190 that departed from Harbin, China, crash-landed about 1 km short of the runway at Yichun Lindu Airport, resulting in 44 deaths. The final investigation report, released in June 2012, concluded that the flight crew failed to observe safety procedures for operations in low visibility.
  Tianjin Airlines Flight 7554 – 2 casualties among hijackers
 On 29 June 2012, Tianjin Airlines Flight 7554, six passengers carrying explosives stood up and announced a hijacking, but they were subdued by other passengers. The E190 returned to Hotan Airport where the hijackers were apprehended and two of them later died in hospital from injuries received in the fight.
  LAM Mozambique Airlines Flight 470 – 33 casualties
 On 29 November 2013, LAM Mozambique Airlines Flight 470, an E190, crashed in Namibia, killing all 33 aboard (27 passengers, 6 crew members) by the deliberate actions of the pilot. The first officer reportedly left the cockpit to use the bathroom. He was then locked out by the captain, who dramatically reduced the aircraft's altitude and ignored various automated warnings ahead of the high-speed impact.
  Piedmont Airlines – 1 ground worker casualty
 On 31 December 2022, a baggage handler employed by Piedmont Airlines, an American Airlines regional carrier, was killed on the ramp at Montgomery Regional Airport when sucked into the jet engine of an Embraer 175 which was scheduled to fly as American Airlines Flight 3408.
  KLM Cityhopper – 1 ground worker casualty
 On 29 May 2024, a worker was sucked into the engine of an Embraer Jet owned by KLM Cityhopper at Amsterdam airport. Dutch authorities stated that the death was a suicide.
  Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 – 38 casualties
 On 25 December 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, an E190, crashed on approach to Aktau International Airport in Kazakhstan. The flight was originally supposed to land at Grozny International Airport but was forced to divert due to fog in Grozny. According to The New York Times,  Azerbaijani investigators believed that a Russian Pantsir-S1 air-defence system damaged the plane before it crashed.  Out of the 67 passengers on board, 38 people were killed, and 29 others survived.

Hull losses with no fatalities 
On 17 July 2007, Aero República Flight 7330 overran the runway while landing at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Santa Marta, Colombia. The E190 slid down an embankment off the side of the runway and came to rest with the nose in shallow water. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair, but all 60 aboard evacuated unharmed.

On 16 September 2011, an E190 operated by TAME landed long and ran off the end of the runway at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, colliding with approach equipment and a brick wall. The crew reportedly failed to adhere to the manufacturer's procedures in the event of a flap malfunction, continuing the approach in spite of the aircraft's condition. Eleven of the 103 aboard received minor injuries, and the aircraft was written off.

On 31 July 2018, Aeroméxico Connect Flight 2431, an E190 bound for Mexico City, crashed in Durango, Mexico shortly after takeoff. 99 passengers and 4 crew were on board. Although there were no fatalities, the aircraft was destroyed by the ensuing fire. The probable cause was attributed to "loss of control [...] by low altitude windshear that caused a loss of speed and lift" with contributing factors from the crew and the Navigation Services.

On 11 November 2018, Air Astana Flight 1388 on a flight from Alverca Airbase, Portugal, to Almaty suffered severe control issues including flipping over and diving sharply. The crew activated the direct mode for flight controls which allowed sufficient control to make an emergency landing on the third attempt at Beja Airbase in Portugal with serious damage sustained during these high-G maneuvers. It was subsequently written-off and broken up. The investigation revealed that the aileron cables were installed incorrectly, causing reversal of aileron controls. The investigation blamed the manufacturer of the airplane for the poorly written maintenance instructions, the supervising authorities for lack of oversight over the maintenance crew, who lacked the skill to perform the maintenance, and the flight crew for failing to notice the condition during pre-flight control checks.

On 18 February 2024, Air Serbia Flight 324 from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport to Dusseldorf International Airport, operated by an E195 leased from Marathon Airlines, overran the runway on take-off and struck the runway's instrument landing system antenna array. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, left wing root, and left stabiliser. After 58 minutes, the aircraft landed back safely at Belgrade, and there were no casualties. After the incident, Air Serbia cancelled its contract with Marathon Airlines; the aircraft will reportedly be retired and scrapped.

Other incidents 
On 22 October 2023, Horizon Air Flight 2059 was operating from Paine Field in Everett, Washington to San Francisco International Airport when Joseph David Emerson, an off-duty pilot sitting in the jumpseat inside the cockpit, reportedly tried to pull both engine fire extinguisher handles on the overhead panel. The E175 aircraft was operating at 31,000 feet at the time, and had Emerson been successful at activating the fire extinguishers, both engines would have shut down. The crew was able to subdue him and land at the Portland International Airport in Oregon, where Emerson was arrested and later charged with 83 counts of attempted murder.

On 9 April 2017, a passenger was dragged off a United Express flight after he refused to get up from his seat. In the process, the security officers struck the face of David Dao, a Vietnamese-American, knocking him unconscious. This incident was highly criticized. This incident happened at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The aircraft was operating a Republic Airways flight under United Express trademark.

Preserved aircraft
 JA04FJ - formerly N866RW, nose section preserved at Matsumoto Airport.

Specifications

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links

 
 
 
 
 
 

2000s Brazilian airliners
Embraer aircraft
Twinjets
Aircraft first flown in 2002
Low-wing aircraft
Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear