View source for Air Tractor AT-500 family

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{{Infobox aircraft
| name = AT-500 family
| image = Air Tractor AT-502B (VH-HGV) taxiing at Wagga Wagga Airport.jpg
| caption = Air Tractor AT-502B
| type = Agricultural aircraft
| manufacturer = [[Air Tractor]]
| designer =
| first_flight = 25 April 1986
| introduction =
| retired =
| status = Active, in production
| primary_user =
| more_users =
| produced = 1986-present
| number_built =
| variants =
}}
The '''Air Tractor AT-500''' is a family of [[agricultural aircraft]] that first flew in the [[United States]] on 25 April [[1986 in aviation|1986]], manufactured by [[Air Tractor|Air Tractor Inc]]. Of [[monoplane]] low-wing, [[Conventional landing gear|taildragger]] configuration, they carry a chemical hopper between the engine [[Firewall (construction)#Firewalls outside of building construction|firewall]] and the [[cockpit]]. Compared with their predecessor, the AT-500 family featured a wingspan increase of 50&nbsp;in (12.7 cm), and an additional [[fuselage]] stretch of 22 in (56&nbsp;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 aircraft|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.<ref name=GAMA_2018>{{cite report |title=2018 Annual Report |url=https://gama.aero/wp-content/uploads/GAMA-2018-Annual-Report-FINAL.pdf |publisher=General Aviation Manufacturers Association |pages=18–20 |access-date=26 February 2019 }}</ref>
<!-- ==Development== -->
<!-- ==Operational history== -->
==Variants==
;AT-500:Prototype
;{{visible anchor|AT-501}}:Piston-powered version with {{convert|600|shp|abbr=on}} [[Pratt & Whitney R-1340]] engine, one seat, [[Aircraft gross weight|gross weight]] of {{convert|6500|lb|abbr=on}}<ref>Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, p. 5.</ref>
;{{visible anchor|AT-502}}:Upgraded AT-501 with {{convert|680|shp|abbr=on}} [[Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A|Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-15AG]] or {{convert|750|shp|abbr=on}} PT6A-34AG engine, one or two seats, gross weight of {{convert|6500|lb|abbr=on}} or {{convert|8000|lb|abbr=on}} depending on production date and [[wing spar]] type<ref>Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 6-8.</ref>
;AT-502A:[[Hot and high]] version of AT-502 with {{convert|1100|shp|abbr=on}} PT6A-65AG or {{convert|1050|shp|abbr=on}} PT6A-60AG engine, one or two seats in [[tandem]] or side-by-side arrangement, gross weight of {{convert|8000|lb|abbr=on}}<ref>Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 17-20.</ref><ref>Air Tractor Pilot Training Course 2015, p. 17.</ref>
;AT-502B:Main production version, development of AT-502 with {{convert|750|shp|abbr=on}} PT6A-34AG engine, one or two seats in [[tandem]] or side-by-side arrangement, gross weight of {{convert|8000|lb|abbr=on}}<ref>Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 21-23.</ref><ref>Air Tractor Pilot Training Course 2015, p. 17.</ref>
;AT-502XP:Updated AT-502A with {{convert|867|shp|abbr=on}} PT6A-140AG engine<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Air Tractor Introduces a New Airplane |url=https://airtractor.com/news/2015/10/air-tractor-introduces-a-new-airplane/ |location=Olney, Texas |publisher=Air Tractor |access-date=2019-02-26}}</ref><ref>Air Tractor Pilot Training Course 2015, p. 17.</ref>
;{{visible anchor|AT-503}}:Production version with {{convert|1100|shp|abbr=on}} PT6A-45R engine, [[tandem]] seats, gross weight of {{convert|8000|lb|abbr=on}}<ref>Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 1-2.</ref>
;AT-503A:AT-503 with {{convert|750|shp|abbr=on}} PT6A-34AG engine, tandem seats<ref>Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW 2016, pp. 14-16.</ref> dual controls, AT-501 wings<ref name="jawa92p326">{{Harvnb|Lambert|1992|p=326}}</ref>
;AT-503T:Dual-control trainer version of AT-503 with shorter AT-401 wings, tandem seats{{Citation needed|date=February 2019}}
;{{visible anchor|AT-504}}:Dual-control trainer version of AT-502B with side-by-side seating, replaced tandem-seat AT-503 trainers, introduced 2009<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=10 April 2009 |title=Air Tractor Offers Working Trainer |url=https://www.flyingmag.com/pilot-reports/turboprops/air-tractor-offers-working-trainer |magazine=Flying |access-date=26 February 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=AT-504 Field Report: An Ag Plane For The Next Generation |url=https://airtractor.com/news/2015/10/air-tractor-introduces-a-new-airplane/ |location=Olney, Texas |publisher=Air Tractor |access-date=26 February 2019 }}</ref>
==Specifications (AT-502B)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89 <ref name="Janes 88 p322-4">{{Harvnb|Taylor|1988|pp=322–324}}</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
General characteristics
-->
|genhide=
|crew=Two
|capacity=
*{{convert|1900|L|USgal impgal L|order=out|abbr=on}} hopper
*{{convert|5830|lb|kg|abbr=on}} payload
|length m=
|length ft=33
|length in=6
|span m=
|span ft=52
|span in=0
|height m=
|height ft=9
|height in=9+1/2
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=288.0
|airfoil=NACA 4415
|aspect ratio=8.0:1
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=4650
|gross weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=10480
|fuel capacity={{convert|260|USgal|impgal L|abbr=on}}
<!--
Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG]]
|eng1 type=[[turboprop]]
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 shp=750<!-- prop engines -->
|prop blade number=3 <!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=Hartzell [[constant-speed propeller]]
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=9<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=3<!-- propeller aircraft -->
<!--
Performance
-->
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=154
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at sea level<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed mph=130<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed note=(ferry speed)
|stall speed mph=69
|stall speed note=(power off, flaps down) at maximum landing weight
|range km=
|range miles=800
|range nmi=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=36000
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=3500
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
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{{aircontent
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|related=<!-- related developments -->
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->
}}
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
*{{cite report |date=21 March 2016 |title=Type Certificate Data Sheet A17SW, Revision 14 |url=http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/40e46f12c1e156b786257f7d005521ef/$FILE/A17SW_Rev_14.pdf |publisher=Department of Transportation.  Federal Aviation Administration.
|access-date=26 February 2019}}
*{{cite report |date=November 2015 |title=Air Tractor Pilot Training Course |url=https://airtractor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/AT-402-502-504-602-Pilot_Training_Course.pdf |publisher=Air Tractor |access-date=26 February 2019}}
===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last= Simpson |first= R. W. |title=Airlife's General Aviation |year=1995 |publisher=Airlife Publishing |location=Shrewsbury |pages=31–32 }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=John W. R. |editor-link=John W. R. Taylor |title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89|year=1988 |publisher=Jane's Defence Data |location=Coulsdon, UK |isbn=0-7106-0867-5 }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Lambert |editor-first=John |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1992–93 |year=1992 |publisher=Jane's Data Division |location=Coulsdon, UK |isbn=0-7106-0987-6 }}
{{refend}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Air Tractor AT-501}}
* http://www.airtractor.com/
{{Air Tractor aircraft}}
[[Category:Air Tractor aircraft|AT-501]]
[[Category:1980s United States agricultural aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined turboprop aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1986]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]