Focke-Wulf Bl.500
Walter Blume (built at Focke-Wulf) · West Germany · first flew 1957 · light aircraft
The Blume Bl.500 was a West German four-seat light aircraft designed by Dr Walter Blume, and built at the Focke-Wulf plant. It was an all-metal low-wing monoplane with retractable tricycle undercarriage.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.15 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- West German four-seat light tourer designed by Walter Blume
- Conventional all-metal cantilever low wing with retractable tricycle undercarriage
- Single Lycoming O-320 flat-four in the nose
A clean cantilever low-wing four-seater with a retractable tricycle undercarriage, an enclosed cabin and a conventional tail. Specs shown are those of the Bl.502.
Specifications
- The Focke-Wulf Bl.500 has a length of 8.15 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.5 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 250 km/h (155 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 + 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Blume derived the design from his Arado Ar 79. The Bl.500 prototype first flew on 14 March 1957 with a 150 hp Lycoming O-320. It led to the Bl.502, which gained German type certification, but no orders came and Blume abandoned the project.
Variants
The Bl.502 was the intended production version with the O-320, and the Bl.503 a proposed version with a Lycoming O-360. Two aircraft were built in all; one Bl.503 was completed.
Where you'll see it
No orders were placed. The only Bl.503 was still active in 1965.
Related aircraft
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