The Adam A500 was developed and produced by Adam Aircraft Industries as a six-seat twin-engine civil utility aircraft. The twin-boom aircraft took to the skies for the first time on July 11, 2002, and features a push-pull configuration and two powerful Continental TSIO-550E piston engines. Production was completed with a total of seven aircraft built.
On July 1, 2002, the A500 prototype conducted its maiden flight. In May 2005, t was awarded its Federal Aviation Administration certification. In February 2008, the manufacturing company Adam Aircraft stopped operations and filed for bankruptcy. Aircraft production was completed with a total of seven A500s were produced. In 2008, Adam Aircraft was bought by AAI Acquisition Inc.
The Adam A500 was derived from the M-309 CarbonAero technology demonstrator which took its first flight in March 2000. In comparison to conventional twin-engine configuration, the centerline thrust arrangement of the aircraft lessens drag and amplifies the aircraft controllability in case one of the engines fails to function. The A500 is designed with a pressurized cabin and the airframe is mainly constructed with carbon fiber epoxy composite and a Nomex flame-resistant meta-aramid honeycomb core.
The American civil utility aircraft is operated by a single crew and can accommodate up to five passengers in flight. It has an external length of 11.43 meters, an external height of 2.3 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 1.45 meters. The wingspan is 13.41 meters, the tail height is 2.92 meters, and the wheelbase is 3.08 meters. It has an empty weight of 2,427 kg, a gross weight of 3,175 kg, and a maximum payload of 700 kg. The fuel tank capacity is 230 US gallons.
The A500 is powered by twin Teledyne Continental TSIO-550E engines. It is a fuel-injected six-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine which produces a maximum takeoff thrust of 350 horsepower each. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 225 knots and a cruise speed of 220 knots. The stall speed is 75 knots in landing configuration with gear and flaps down. It has a range of 892 nautical miles at 75% power and a ferry range of 1,286 nautical miles at 45% power. The aircraft has a maximum certified service ceiling of 25,000 feet and 14,900 feet on one engine. The rate of climb is 1800 feet per minute.
Want More of This?
We'll send you our latest and best content straight to your inbox
