Embraer Legacy 500
Embraer · Brazil · first flew 2012 · transport aircraft
The Legacy 500 was Embraer's first super-midsize bizjet with fly-by-wire controls and a flat-floor stand-up cabin, bridging the gap between the Legacy 600 and larger platforms.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, tail-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 26.33 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Super-midsize silhouette with upswept winglets — predecessor to the Praetor 600, very similar in outline but with straight winglets rather than drooped
- Rolls-Royce AE 3007A2 engines in slim nacelles; large oval windows and a characteristically low sill height
- Fly-by-wire flight controls give it a characteristic approach attitude — slightly more nose-up than conventional bizjets of this size
Versus the Praetor 600 the winglets are straight and upswept rather than drooped; against the Challenger 350 it is longer with a more tapered nose and different winglet style.
Specifications
- The Embraer Legacy 500 has a length of 26.33 m (86 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 22.86 m (75 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 870 km/h (541 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 flight crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in November 2012 and entering service in 2014, the Legacy 500 introduced fly-by-wire controls to the Embraer bizjet line, enabling a lower cockpit workload and improved handling. It was replaced in the catalogue by the Praetor 600 in 2019 but remains in widespread operator service.
Variants
The Legacy 500 was offered in a single configuration; the direct successor is the Praetor 600, which shares the same basic airframe but adds drooped winglets and avionics upgrades.
Where you'll see it
Operated by charter companies across Europe, with fleet examples frequently rotating through Farnborough and Luton; distinguishable from Praetor 600s only by the straight winglets and type plate.
Related aircraft
- E190-E2
- Embraer E-Jet E2 Family
- Embraer Phenom 300
- Embraer E195-E2
- Bombardier E-11A
- Bombardier Challenger 350
- Dornier C-146A Wolfhound
- Harbin Z-20
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