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| STANDARD DATA: A500 Seats 6. Gross wt. 6,300. Empty wt. 5,160. Fuel capacity 230. Engines two 350-hp Continental TSIO-550 E. PERFORMANCE: Top Speed 250 kts. Max Cruise 230 kts. Stall 70 kts. Initial climb rate 1,800 fpm. Ceiling 25,000′. Range 1,470 nm. |
The basic design of this unique-looking pusher/puller came from Burt Rutan and Scaled Composites in Mojave, California. The A500 is a pressurized, twinengine aircraft with centerline thrust and carbon composite construction. Control surfaces are aluminum and lead to a side-stick yoke for both the front-seaters. Each engine is intercooled and turbocharged, and has a 100-amp alternator to run the avionics. The A500 also has an emergency load-shedding feature that automatically shuts down non-essential electronics. Landing gear are electro-hydraulic actuated.
