Air Tractor AT-500 family

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 mostly feature a wingspan increased to 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.

AT-500 family
Air Tractor AT-501
Role Agricultural aircraft
Manufacturer Air Tractor
First flight 25 April 1986
Status Active, in production
Produced 1986-present

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
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-45R turboprop, 1,100 shp (820 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell constant-speed propeller, 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 220 mph (350 km/h, 190 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 180 mph (290 km/h, 160 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
  1. 2018 Annual Report (PDF) (Report). General Aviation Manufacturers Association. pp. 18–20. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  2. Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, p. 5.
  3. Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 6-8.
  4. Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 17-20.
  5. Air Tractor Pilot Training Course 2015, p. 17.
  6. Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 21-23.
  7. Air Tractor Pilot Training Course 2015, p. 17.
  8. "Air Tractor Introduces a New Airplane" (Press release). Olney, Texas: Air Tractor. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  9. Air Tractor Pilot Training Course 2015, p. 17.
  10. Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 1-2.
  11. Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 14-16.
  12. Lambert 1992, p. 326
  13. "Air Tractor Offers Working Trainer". Flying. 10 April 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  14. "AT-504 Field Report: An Ag Plane For The Next Generation" (Press release). Olney, Texas: Air Tractor. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  15. Taylor 1988, p. 322–324

References

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.
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