The Embraer Praetor 500 is a significant evolution of the Legacy 450 platform, introduced as part of Embraer's strategic rebranding and performance enhancement initiative in 2018. Positioned in the midsize business jet category, the Praetor 500 builds upon the proven Legacy 450 airframe with a suite of aerodynamic, structural, and systems-level improvements that elevate its performance and range. The aircraft’s maiden flight occurred in September 2018, with FAA and EASA certifications following in 2019. Production commenced that same year and continues to the present.
Key engineering advancements include new winglets and additional fuselage fuel tanks, boosting the aircraft’s maximum range to 3,250 nautical miles while retaining the same Honeywell HTF7500E turbofan engines, each producing 6,540 pounds of thrust. The enhanced fuel capacity is enabled by changes to the fuel system and structure without significantly altering external dimensions.
The fly-by-wire flight control system remains a core design feature, contributing to the Praetor 500’s signature smooth ride and flight stability. The Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite has also been enhanced, offering advanced situational awareness tools and graphical flight planning capabilities.
Inside, the cabin continues Embraer’s focus on passenger comfort, featuring a flat-floor design, six-foot ceiling height, and a 5,800-foot cabin altitude at FL450. The standard configuration seats up to nine passengers with optional layouts including a belted lavatory. Embraer’s custom “Bossa Nova†interior is also available, incorporating carbon fiber trim and stone flooring.
Marketed as the most disruptive and technologically advanced midsize jet in its class, the Praetor 500 combines super-midsize range with midsize operating economics, making it especially attractive for high-utilization operators and transcontinental missions.
