I spent some time at Airventure with the sales guys from Extra. They are getting FAA approval( they already have European approval) for the presurized Extra 500. In addition they hope to move manfacturing to Az. or Idaho to keep production costs down. They boast a 10 hour endurance with 400lb useful load and a 5 hour endurance with over 900lb. useful load. Curise speeds were about 215kts. using the lower altitude/better fuel burning Rolls turbine. Pricing was in the 1.7mil range. On the surface(and prior track record aside) this plane looks a lot better than a Meridian as a step up alternative to Bo or Barons. In that reguard I hope they are successful.

I really like this option also. They had one at PDK last year that I looked at. It's pretty for a high wing. I don't remember if it had ice protection or not.

It has boots.

The thing that gets me is the HUGE keypad on the yoke.

I sat in the extra 500 for fifteen minutes today. Definitely no keyboard on the pilot's yoke. It is mounted in the small center console.

Exactly 1 year ago, they announced that they would produce in Montrose, CO . Seemed an odd choice at the time.

Has there been any change in plans since ?

I'm sure the picture above is the homebuilt version. The certified would probably be like you say.

Glad to hear they changed that. I bet a Blackberry fan designed it.





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Sent by my 8th Blackberry.

Be nice if they would put the 715 hp version of the engine in and flat rate it.
Frankly 215 kts is pretty pokey for a new turbine craft.

It is pokey but it runs on JetA and has low fuel burn. I'd take it.

It is a good looking aircraft. I had a turn in it at my home field last year. The aerodynamic shaping of the airframe permitted by the composite construction is really sharp looking. I came away with two main impressions. The same aerodynamic shaping at the front makes the front left seat tight for a large pilot. I'm 6'4", 215 lbs., and it was tight at my left shoulder and elbow. Also, headroom to the left and above was diminished by the curve of the fuselage. The other impression was $1.7 million for only 215 kts. and limited to FL250?

I just wish a more substantial, deep-pocketed organization would get behind a project like this. Most of the offerings are over $3 million and at least 150,000/yr. operating.

We need a halfer from somebody that's going to survive!

I would take a little less speed and lower ceiling in exchange for good range and useful load. The brochure says it will have 5.5DPI and maintain an 8,000 ft. cabin @ 25,000ft. They claim a 1,438 mile range+ IFR reserve with 3 on board... Burning jet-A.... Sounds good to me.
They told me they intend to keep under the radar until they have FAA approval. And that a factory location would be announced within a month.
All this came from the sales team.

Sounds good to me. I'll take 215 or so all day especially if I can still fly 17,500' VFR and get decent fuel burn.

I'm happy with the speed of my Bonanza. It takes me a lot of places. This Extra seem to answer a lot of my other concerns.

The specs make it very interesting but....

It's all about service. Thin organizations are scary. When you ask about warranty, most of these guys have slick "Brochure answers" for everything.

Question.....How do I get warranty work preformed?

Answer....We have a comprehensive reinbursement program with a vast network.

Reality.....There's this guy about 250 miles away that we'll short his hours in half and then take 180 days to pay. He'll never work on your airplane again but, so what...we're out of parts anyway!

It's a high wing....let's hope Cessna buys it!

lol. It's true.