| AT-500 family | |
|---|---|
| |
| Air Tractor AT-502B | |
| Role | Agricultural aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Air Tractor |
| First flight | 25 April 1986 |
| Status | Active, in production |
| Produced | 1986-present |
The Air Tractor AT-500 is a family of agricultural aircraft that first flew in the United States on 25 April 1986, manufactured by Air Tractor Inc. Of monoplane low-wing, taildragger configuration, they carry a chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit. Compared with their predecessor, the AT-500 family featured a wingspan increase of 50 ft (15.2 m), and an additional fuselage stretch of 22 in (56 cm), allowing for a larger chemical hopper. Almost all variants offer a widened "buddy" seat or a tandem seat for a passenger, observer, or loader; trainer aircraft with full dual controls have also been offered.
From 2011 through 2018, the AT-502B was the world's top-selling agricultural aircraft with 388 deliveries, while the combined AT-500 line (AT-502A, -502B, and -504) was among the world's most popular fixed wing general aviation single-turboprop aircraft families, with 470 delivered—a total exceeded only by the Pilatus PC-12 and the Cessna 208 Caravan family during that time.[1]
Variants
- AT-500
- Prototype
- AT-501
- Piston-powered version with 600 shp (450 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine, one seat, gross weight of 6,500 lb (2,900 kg)[2]
- AT-502
- Upgraded AT-501 with 680 shp (510 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-15AG or 750 shp (560 kW) PT6A-34AG engine, one or two seats, gross weight of 6,500 lb (2,900 kg) or 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) depending on production date and wing spar type[3]
- AT-502A
- Hot and high version of AT-502 with 1,100 shp (820 kW) PT6A-65AG or 1,050 shp (780 kW) PT6A-60AG engine, one or two seats in tandem or side-by-side arrangement, gross weight of 8,000 lb (3,600 kg)[4][5]
- AT-502B
- Main production version, development of AT-502 with 750 shp (560 kW) PT6A-34AG engine, one or two seats in tandem or side-by-side arrangement, gross weight of 8,000 lb (3,600 kg)[6][7]
- AT-502XP
- Updated AT-502A with 867 shp (647 kW) PT6A-140AG engine[8][9]
- AT-503
- Production version with 1,100 shp (820 kW) PT6A-45R engine, tandem seats, gross weight of 8,000 lb (3,600 kg)[10]
- AT-503A
- AT-503 with 750 shp (560 kW) PT6A-34AG engine, tandem seats[11] dual controls, AT-501 wings[12]
- AT-503T
- Dual-control trainer version of AT-503 with shorter AT-401 wings, tandem seats[citation needed]
- AT-504
- Dual-control trainer version of AT-502B with side-by-side seating, replaced tandem-seat AT-503 trainers, introduced 2009[13][14]
Specifications (AT-502B)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89 [15]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Capacity: *500 US gal (420 imp gal; 1,900 L) hopper
- 5,830 lb (2,640 kg) payload
- Length: 33 ft 6 in (10.21 m)
- Wingspan: 52 ft 0 in (15.85 m)
- Height: 9 ft 9+1⁄2 in (2.985 m)
- Wing area: 288.0 sq ft (26.76 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 8.0:1
- Airfoil: NACA 4415
- Empty weight: 4,650 lb (2,109 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 10,480 lb (4,754 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 260 US gal (220 imp gal; 980 L)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG turboprop, 750 shp (560 kW)
- Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell constant-speed propeller, 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 154 mph (248 km/h, 134 kn) at sea level
- Cruise speed: 130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn) (ferry speed)
- Stall speed: 69 mph (111 km/h, 60 kn) (power off, flaps down) at maximum landing weight
- Range: 800 mi (1,300 km, 700 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 3,500 ft/min (18 m/s)
Notes
- ^ 2018 Annual Report (PDF) (Report). General Aviation Manufacturers Association. pp. 18–20. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, p. 5.
- ^ Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 6-8.
- ^ Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 17-20.
- ^ Air Tractor Pilot Training Course 2015, p. 17.
- ^ Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 21-23.
- ^ Air Tractor Pilot Training Course 2015, p. 17.
- ^ "Air Tractor Introduces a New Airplane" (Press release). Olney, Texas: Air Tractor. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
- ^ Air Tractor Pilot Training Course 2015, p. 17.
- ^ Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 1-2.
- ^ Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 14-16.
- ^ Lambert 1992, p. 326
- ^ "Air Tractor Offers Working Trainer". Flying. 10 April 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "AT-504 Field Report: An Ag Plane For The Next Generation" (Press release). Olney, Texas: Air Tractor. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Taylor 1988, pp. 322–324
References
- Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW, Revision 14 (PDF) (Report). Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- Air Tractor Pilot Training Course (PDF) (Report). Air Tractor. November 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
Bibliography
- Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. pp. 31–32.
- Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1988). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
- Lambert, John, ed. (1992). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1992–93. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division. ISBN 0-7106-0987-6.
External links
This page was last edited on 22 March 2024, at 03:11