Spectrum SA-550
Spectrum Aircraft · United States · first flew 1983 · light aircraft
The Spectrum SA-550 was an American single-engine personal jet project of the early 1980s, aimed at the owner-pilot market seeking jet performance in a compact, affordable airframe. Its T-tail and aft engine gave it a business-jet aesthetic at light-aircraft scale.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Single-engine jet with T-tail and aft-fuselage engine inlet |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engine jet with T-tail and aft-fuselage engine inlet
- Swept low wing with retractable undercarriage
- Compact personal jet with side-by-side seating
The combination of swept low wings, a T-tail, and a single aft-fuselage engine gives the SA-550 a scaled-down business jet appearance; it is smaller than almost any other jet configuration of its era.
Specifications
- The Spectrum SA-550 has a length of 11.23 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.63 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 402 km/h (250 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot, 1–2 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Conceived by Spectrum Aircraft in the early 1980s, the SA-550 first flew in 1983 as a demonstrator for the personal jet concept. The programme did not progress to series production, reflecting the difficult economics of certifying a new jet aircraft for the general aviation market during that period.
Variants
The SA-550 was a prototype programme; no production variants or series aircraft were completed.
Where you'll see it
The aircraft remained at the prototype stage; it did not enter commercial service or receive FAA type certification for production.
Related aircraft
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