Pilot Report - Extra EA-500

May 2004 - The $1.5 million turbine version of the Extra 400 is approaching certification. Six aircraft are to be built before the end of the year. The majority of customers for the EA-500 are currently expected to be from the USA. A dozen American customers have apparently already made downpayments.

Under the 30 cm longer cowling, the twin-shaft 250-B17F/2 turbine engine, supplied by Rolls-Royce, provides 450hp. To extend the range, the tank volume has been raised from 468 litres of avgas to 680 litres of Jet A1. This opens up an operating range of 2,900km with a two-person crew and 30kg of baggage.

The turbine Extra offers a cruise speed of 220kt. The engine comes into its own between FL 160 and FL 200. In the May edition Pilot Report, the other aspects of the EA-500’s flight performance are revealed in detail.