Introduction to the Embraer Legacy 500 Jet
The Legacy 500 is built by Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. It launched a family of business jets that now includes the Legacy 450, Praetor 500 and Praetor 600. When Embraer introduced the program in April 2008, the Legacy 450 and 500 were the first jets in their size category to offer a flat-floor, stand-up cabin and fly-by-wire controls.
Embraer chose Honeywell HTF7500E turbofans, a Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion integrated cockpit and a Parker Hannifin fly-by-wire flight control system. The Legacy 500 was named at the May 2008 European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, priced at $18.4 million at the time.
The first Legacy 500 flew on November 27, 2012. Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) certified it on August 12, 2014, after 1,800 hours of flight tests, and the FAA followed on October 21, 2014. The first delivery was on October 11, 2014.
Range and Speed
- Range with four passengers: 3,125 nautical miles
- Range with eight passengers: 2,948 nautical miles
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.83
- Average long-range cruise: 436 knots true airspeed, Mach 0.76 to 0.78
- Ceiling: 45,000 feet
- Climb to its 43,000-foot initial cruise altitude: 22 minutes
Flying at Mach 0.80 instead of long-range cruise reduces range by about 3%.
Capacity and Payload
The Legacy 500 can be configured for up to 12 passengers. Its maximum takeoff weight is 38,360 pounds, with a basic operating weight of 23,700 pounds. The cockpit is flown by two pilots.
Exterior Design and Dimensions
- Length: 68 ft 1 in
- Wingspan: 63 ft 2 in
- Height: 21 ft 2 in
- Wing sweep: 27 degrees
- Takeoff distance: 4,084 feet
- Landing distance: 2,122 feet
The aircraft has a low wing, a T-tail and two rear-mounted turbofans.
Interior Design and Amenities
The cabin is 6 feet high and 6 ft 10 in wide, with a flat floor. Embraer calls it a stand-up cabin. Cabin altitude is held at 6,000 feet.
Interiors vary from one aircraft to the next. Check the layout and amenities of the specific jet before you book or buy.
Fuel Efficiency
In the first hour, the Legacy 500 burns about 2,200 to 2,400 pounds of fuel. After that it burns about 1,700 to 1,800 pounds per hour at heavy weights, dropping to about 1,500 to 1,600 pounds per hour when lighter.
Engine maintenance for the two HTF7500E engines costs about $642 to $658 per flight hour, depending on use. Airframe maintenance runs about $321 per hour, plus about $4,300 per month for aircraft flown less often.
Safety and Reliability
Fly-by-wire controls are designed to improve both safety and ride comfort. Dispatch reliability often exceeds 99%. Most components are mounted outside the pressure vessel, which makes them easy to reach if they need repair.
The aircraft is certified for day, night, VFR and IFR flight, for reduced vertical separation minimum airspace and for flight into known icing conditions.
How the Legacy 500 Is Used
The average Legacy 500 mission is under two hours. Fleet operators fly theirs more than 700 hours a year, while single-aircraft owners typically fly 150 to 200 hours a year.
In 2017, the Legacy 500 was priced at $20 million, and Bombardier cut the price of its Challenger 300/350 to match. The Legacy 500 also competed with the Citation Sovereign+, the Citation X, the Gulfstream G280 and the Challenger 350.
Embraer introduced the Praetor 600 in October 2018 as an improved, longer-range version of the Legacy 500, with a range of 4,018 nautical miles. The last Legacy 500 deliveries were in 2020.
Chartering an Embraer Legacy 500 with BLADE
BLADE arranges private charters of helicopters, jets and turboprops. You choose the route, the date and the number of passengers, and BLADE books a suitable aircraft with a licensed operator. In the United States, BLADE acts as an air charter broker, and all flights are operated by DOT/FAA-licensed carriers.
With a stand-up cabin and more than 3,000 nautical miles of range, the Legacy 500 suits small groups on longer domestic trips. If one is not available for your date, BLADE can suggest a similar midsize or super midsize jet, including its successor, the Praetor 600. Prices depend on the route, the aircraft and the timing, so check current options when you book.
Summary of Key Features
- Range: 3,125 nautical miles with four passengers.
- Cabin: flat floor, 6 feet high, up to 12 passengers.
- Technology: fly-by-wire controls and a Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion cockpit.
- Speed: maximum Mach 0.83.
- Engines: two Honeywell HTF7500E turbofans.