Brigadier Paulo Victor da Silva, then-director of the CTA, was the one who named the aircraft "Bandeirante." The name carried symbolic weight, linking the concept to the Bandeirante pioneers and symbolizing national integration.

This pioneering spirit was reaffirmed during the project's development. In the mid-1960s, designing and manufacturing an aircraft prototype typically took about five years and consumed vast resources. Brazil faced additional challenges during that period as well. Despite this, the first Bandeirante prototype was built in just three years and four months following the project's approval. The new aircraft's maiden test flight took place on October 22, 1968. The event was marked by great anticipation among the entire team, who were also celebrating the 20th anniversary of the start of operations at the CTA.

Four days later, at the São José dos Campos airport, the first Bandeirante prototype performed its official demonstration flight. The ceremony was attended by approximately 15,000 people, including the Minister of Aeronautics, government ministers, and other civil and military officials.

With the successful completion of the first prototype, the challenges of serial production and commercialization arose. To realize these steps, the creation of Embraer was officially announced in the Official Gazette on August 19, 1969; the company would designate the Bandeirante as the EMB 100.

Two months later, the second Bandeirante prototype made its maiden flight, still under the responsibility of the CTA team. On January 2, 1970, Embraer began operations and took over production of the aircraft, building the third prototype entirely in-house. Equipped with an airborne laboratory for remote sensing research by the CNAE (National Commission for Space Activities), the third prototype flew for the first time on June 29, 1970.

Despite the Bandeirante's strong performance, further studies revealed that its eight-seat capacity was insufficient to drive market growth. Embraer’s design team therefore decided to redesign the aircraft, creating the EMB 110 Bandeirante. The new version was larger—featuring 12 seats in the military configuration—and incorporated significant technical advancements.

Following these modifications, Embraer signed its first supply contract with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) in May of that year for the manufacture of 80 EMB 110 Bandeirante aircraft. In June 1975, the first Bandeirante prototype made its final flight, traveling from Santos Dumont Airport to Afonsos Air Force Base.

The second prototype was donated to the Santos Dumont Foundation and remained at the institution's headquarters in Cotia, São Paulo. As part of the celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the Bandeirante's maiden flight, Embraer undertook the restoration of the aircraft's second prototype in October 2008. The plane was painted in FAB colors and fitted with a new interior featuring elements, textures, and shades similar to the original upholstery.