In this series of profiles, we take a close look at Ascent’s fleet of training aircraft, in use at our sites across the UK, and the work they carry out for the UK’s Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS).
Embraer Phenom 100
The Phenom has been in use by UKMFTS since July 2017.
Those destined for multi-engine aircraft, such as the A400M Atlas, undergo Multi-Engine Pilot Training (MEPT) on the Phenom T1 after Elementary Flying Training on the Prefect, at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.
There are five Phenom in the UKMFTS fleet with 14,310 flying hours as of August 2025.
“The Phenom itself is a joy to fly – fabulous instrumentation and automation allow us to expose our trainees to the full gambit of procedural flying, both in the UK and Northern Europe. The aircraft also provides plenty to challenge the trainees in terms of handling – not least in a busy mixed visual circuit here at Cranwell.
“Indeed, the syllabus culminates in a Simulated Mission Profile, where trainees plan and execute a pairs landaway sortie, including Low Flying and Close Formation on both the outbound and inbound sectors.”
MEPT Chief Pilot
Statistics
- Length: 42ft 1in (12.82m)
- Height: 14ft 3in (4.35m)
- Wingspan: 40ft 4in (12.30m)
- Wing area: 201.9 sq ft (18.76 m2)
- Max take-off weight: 10,582 lb (4,800 kg)
- Max speed 275kt (510 km/h)
- Max altitude: 41,000ft
Photos: Taken at RIAT 2025 by Aviation PhotoCrew
