Extra EA-500
Extra · Germany · first flew 2002 · light aircraft
The Extra EA-500 is the turboprop development of the pressurised EA-400, fitting a Rolls-Royce 250 turbine and five-blade propeller to the same carbon-fibre high-wing airframe.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Turboprop nose, five-blade prop
- Cantilever high wing
- T-tail
The slim turboprop cowling and five-blade propeller distinguish it from the blunter piston EA-400. The strutless cantilever high wing and T-tail carry over from the EA-400 airframe.
Specifications
- The Extra EA-500 has a length of 10.1 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.7 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 435 km/h (270 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot, up to 5 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Extra flew the EA-500 in 2002 as a turbine evolution of its EA-400 single. It was produced in small numbers through to around 2015, when design rights passed to Jiangsu A-Star and support later moved to SST Flugtechnik. Like the EA-400 it remained a low-volume specialist type.
Variants
The 500 is the turboprop sibling of the piston EA-400, sharing fuselage, wing and tail. Its Rolls-Royce 250 engine gives a longer, slimmer cowl than the piston version. No larger family members followed.
Where you'll see it
The EA-500 saw only limited private operation and is scarce on the UK register. Its Rolls-Royce 250 core, of British design, gives a light UK connection. It filled the role of a pressurised owner-flown single turboprop.
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