Extra EA-500

The Extra EA-500 (Extra EA-400-500) is a six-seat single-engined aircraft produced by the Extra Aircraft.

Design and development

Started by Walter Extra, the company has been manufacturing aerobatic airplanes almost exclusively with their latest products being the Extra EA-300 series. This changed when the company introduced the Extra EA-400. This was a cross-country airplane with many exclusive features including carbon fiber construction, pressurized cabin, high strut less wing, and seating for six. Despite the capabilities of the airplane, its $1 million dollar cost and a weak market saw slow sales.

The EA-500 was introduced as an upgraded version of the EA-400 with the piston engine replaced by a Rolls-Royce Model 250-B17F/2 turboprop making 450 horsepower and driving a 5 bladed propeller. Walter Extra flew the first EA-500 from Germany to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to illustrate its range and capabilities. Unfortunately, the costs of development doomed the company and it was forced into bankruptcy.

With new ownership, the company continues to produce the EA-300 range of aerobatic aircraft, and had announced plans to produce the EA-500 for the United States market. Despite pricing that would make the aircraft the least expensive turboprop aircraft in its class, efforts to raise funding to certify the aircraft for US sales were not successful and Extra has suspended its plans to produce the plane for the US market.Fact|date=April 2008 Part of the problem may be the aircraft's relatively poor high speed performance. With a much lower thermodynamic rating,clarifyme the aircraft is not able to maintain horsepower at altitude like its Pratt and Whitney PT-6 powered competitors. The Piper Meridian is able to cruise at 260 knots at 30,000 feet while the Extra 500 can only muster 226 knots at 25,000 feet.

pecifications (Extra EA-500)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=Fact|date=April 2008

crew= 1
capacity= 5
payload main=
payload alt=
length main=
length alt=
span main=
span alt=
height main=
height alt=
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main= 2,974 lbs.
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main= 4,409 lbs
loaded weight alt=
useful load main= 1,610 lb
useful load alt= 730 kg
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)= Rolls Royce (Allison) 250-B17F/2
type of prop= turboprop
number of props= 1
power main= 450 shp
power alt=
power original=

propeller or rotor?=propeller
propellers=
number of propellers per engine=
propeller diameter main=
propeller diameter alt=

max speed main= 235 kts.
max speed alt=
cruise speed main= 226 KTAS
cruise speed alt=
cruise speed more=mid weight, 90% power, 12,000 ft
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 2,100 nmi
range alt=
ferry range main=
ferry range alt=
ferry range more=
ceiling main= 25,000
ceiling alt=
climb rate main= 1,400 fpm
climb rate alt=
climb rate more= at MTOW-ISA
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
*Endurance: 4.2 hours at same conditions as given for cruise
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Extra EA-400

similar aircraft=

lists=

see also=

References

* "International Aircraft Directory, 3rd edition" (ISBN# 978-1-56027-590-9)
* [http://easa.europa.eu/ws_prod/c/doc/Design_Appro/Aircrafts/TC_A_011_Extra_EA400.pdf EASA Type Certificate for EA 400 and EA 400-500]

External links

* http://www.extraaircraft.com/ea500.asp
* [http://www.extraaircraft.com/pilots_manual/POH_EXTRA500.pdf Pilot's Operating Handbook for the EA 400-500 (Extra 500)]