Explorer 500T / 750T
Explorer Aircraft · United States · first flew 2000 · transport aircraft
The Explorer is a single-engine utility turboprop designed for rugged short-field operations, carrying passengers or cargo from unimproved strips.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.68 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High straight wing with fixed tricycle gear
- Single nose-mounted PT6A turboprop
- Boxy composite utility cabin with large cargo door
Note the high straight wing, fixed tricycle undercarriage, single nose turboprop and the tall boxy fuselage with a large cargo door.
Specifications
- The Explorer 500T / 750T has a length of 9.68 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.43 m (47 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 380 km/h (236 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2 pilots.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Explorer Aircraft as an all-composite utility machine, the 500T prototype first flew on 9 June 2000 powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A. The programme progressed slowly toward certification over subsequent years.
Variants
The baseline 500T seats around eleven, while the stretched 750T adds over two metres of cabin, more power and seating for up to seventeen. Both share the same high-wing, fixed-gear composite layout.
Where you'll see it
Aimed at bush, charter and humanitarian operators, the Explorer competes with types like the Cessna Caravan; it has seen little UK use but suits remote-area work worldwide.
Related aircraft
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