Announced alongside the super-midsize Praetor 600 in October 2018, the Embraer Praetor 500 pushed the midsize class further than it had gone before, pairing full fly-by-wire controls and a six-foot stand-up cabin with the longest range in its segment.
Built on the Legacy 450 airframe and powered by Honeywell HTF7500E engines, it carries up to nine passengers 3,340 nautical miles, enough to link most transcontinental city pairs nonstop. Since entering service in 2019 it has become a fixture in fractional fleets from Flexjet, NetJets, and AirSprint.
This page covers the Praetor 500’s specifications, history, and approved tire fitments for its main and nose landing gear, and notes where it differs from the Praetor 600.
Embraer Praetor 500 Specifications
| Manufacturer | Embraer (São José dos Campos, Brazil); type designation EMB-545 |
| Type | Midsize business jet (based on the Legacy 450) |
| First flight | 2018 |
| Certification | ANAC (Brazil), FAA, and EASA type certificates, 2019 |
| Production status | Active |
| Units built | 129 (as of end 2025) |
| Engines | 2x Honeywell HTF7500E turbofan, ~6,540 lb thrust each |
| Max range | 3,340nm (6,186km) with 4 passengers, NBAA IFR reserves |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.83 / 466 KTAS maximum |
| Max operating altitude | 45,000ft |
| Takeoff distance | 4,222ft at MTOW, sea level ISA |
| Landing distance | 2,086ft unfactored (4 passengers, NBAA IFR reserves, sea level ISA) |
| Max takeoff weight (MTOW) | 37,567 lb (17,040 kg) |
| Passenger capacity | Up to 9 |
| Crew | 2 pilots |
| Price (new) | ~$18.4 million (2025 reference) |
| Operating cost | ~$2,900–$3,300/hr total variable (approximate; varies by operator and utilization) |
History and Overview
Development and Background
Embraer launched the Legacy 450 and 500 program in 2008 as the first business jets in their size category to combine a flat-floor stand-up cabin with fly-by-wire flight controls. The Praetor 500 grew directly out of that program. Announced on 14 October 2018, it is an upgraded Legacy 450, the EMB-545 type, with added fuel capacity, higher weights, and a substantial jump in range. Flight testing began in 2018, Brazilian certification from ANAC followed in 2019, and first deliveries took place at the end of that year. Existing Legacy 450s can be converted to Praetor 500 standard, which has kept the older airframes relevant on the used market.
Design and Performance
The Praetor 500 pairs Honeywell HTF7500E engines with new winglets and additional belly fuel to reach 3,340 nautical miles with four passengers, the longest range in the midsize class and a marked step up from the Legacy 450 it replaced. Full fly-by-wire flight controls with side-stick inputs, still uncommon in this segment, reduce pilot workload and support features such as active turbulence reduction. The Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion flight deck adds synthetic and enhanced vision with a head-up display.
The cabin stands six feet tall on a flat floor, the first in the midsize category to do so, and seats up to nine. Ka-band connectivity and the Honeywell Ovation Select cabin management system are standard, and an aft baggage area inside the pressure vessel supplements the unpressurized rear hold.
Variants
The Praetor 500 is offered in a single configuration as the midsize member of a four-aircraft family that also includes the Legacy 450 and 500 and the super-midsize Praetor 600. The 600 is built on the longer Legacy 500 airframe and adds range, weight, and seating. Legacy 450s can be upgraded to Praetor 500 standard, while Legacy 500s cannot be converted to the Praetor 600 because of the systems changes involved.
Operators
The Praetor 500 flies with corporate flight departments, charter operators, and private owners, but its highest-profile role is in fractional fleets. Flexjet, NetJets, and AirSprint all operate the type. NetJets signed for options on up to 250 Praetor 500s in 2023, and Flexjet placed a firm order for 182 Embraer jets in early 2025 that included further Praetor 500s. Embraer had built 129 Praetor 500s by the end of 2025.
Current Status
The Praetor 500 remains in active production at Embraer’s São José dos Campos facility and is a current-catalog aircraft rather than a legacy type, so parts and tire support are straightforward. The used market is still thin because most airframes are young and many sit in fractional fleets, but pre-owned examples trade around $17 million against a new list price near $18.4 million.
Embraer Praetor 500 Landing Gear and Tires
Landing Gear Configuration
The Praetor 500 has a retractable tricycle undercarriage with a twin-wheel nose gear and twin main wheels on each main leg, the same Liebherr-supplied gear used across the Legacy 450 and 500. The nose tyres are chined, throwing runway water and slush outboard and away from the rear-mounted engines. Braking is carbon with brake-by-wire anti-skid, and no airworthiness directives have changed tire requirements during the production run.
Embraer Praetor 500 Tire Specifications
| Nose wheel tire size | 17.5×5.75-8, chined (deflector type) |
| Main gear tire size | H26.5×8.0R14 radial, tubeless |
| Ply rating | 10PR nose / 14PR main |
| Tire pressure (typical) | Not published outside the AMM; verify inflation pressures against the Praetor 500 Airworthiness Maintenance Manual for your serial number |
| Compatible brands | Goodyear (application data); confirm approved alternatives against the AMM and IPC |
| Part numbers | Goodyear 301-055-150 (main, Flight Radial); Goodyear 178K03-1 (nose, Flight Eagle DT) |
Always verify tire specifications against the aircraft’s Airworthiness Maintenance Manual (AMM) and applicable airworthiness directives before ordering. Serial number and configuration can affect tire requirements.
Main Gear Tires
The Praetor 500 carries four H26.5×8.0R14 radials rated at 14 ply, a size it shares with the Legacy 450 and 500, the Praetor 600, and the Bombardier Challenger 300 and 350. Radial construction runs cooler and lighter than an equivalent bias tire, which suits an airframe operating up to a 37,567 lb MTOW. Goodyear’s Flight Radial 301-055-150 is the primary fitment; the bias Flight Leader 269K43-2 covers the same footprint on the Legacy and Challenger families.
Nose Wheel Tire
The twin nose positions take a 17.5×5.75-8 chined tire at 10 ply, carrying a lighter load and lower pressure than the mains. Goodyear’s Flight Eagle DT 178K03-1 serves the position across the Legacy 450, Legacy 500, and the Praetor line.
FAQs
Is the Embraer Praetor 500 still in production?
Yes. Embraer builds the Praetor 500 at its São José dos Campos facility in Brazil, and had produced 129 aircraft by the end of 2025.
What are the Embraer Praetor 500 specifications?
See the specifications table above. Key figures: 3,340nm range, Mach 0.83 maximum cruise, a 45,000-foot ceiling, a 37,567 lb MTOW, Honeywell HTF7500E engines, and seating for up to 9.
What is the range of the Embraer Praetor 500?
3,340 nautical miles (6,186km) with four passengers and NBAA IFR reserves, the longest range in the midsize class.
What is the Embraer Praetor 500 price?
The new list price is roughly $18.4 million (2025 reference). Pre-owned examples trade around $17 million, though the market is thin because the fleet is young.
What does the Embraer Praetor 500 cost to operate per hour?
Total variable costs run in the region of $2,900 to $3,300 per hour depending on utilization, while on-demand charter rates for the midsize class typically fall between $4,500 and $7,500 per hour. Actual figures vary by operator and region.
Where can I find an Embraer Praetor 500 for sale?
Listings appear on AVPRO, Controller, JetNet, and Trade-A-Plane. Availability is limited because most airframes are recent and many are held in fractional fleets.
What interior options does the Embraer Praetor 500 offer?
The cabin seats up to nine on a six-foot flat floor, with the Honeywell Ovation Select cabin management system, Ka-band high-speed connectivity, and an aft lavatory. Baggage rides both inside the pressure vessel and in a larger unpressurized rear hold.
What is the Embraer Praetor 500 landing distance?
The unfactored landing distance is 2,086 feet, assuming four passengers, NBAA IFR reserves, sea level, and ISA conditions. Takeoff distance at maximum weight is 4,222 feet under the same conditions.
How does the Praetor 500 differ from the Praetor 600?
The 500 is the midsize member of the family, built on the shorter Legacy 450 airframe, while the 600 is super-midsize and built on the longer Legacy 500. The 600 carries more fuel and weight for about 4,018nm of range against the 500’s 3,340nm, seats more passengers, and needs slightly more runway. Both use Honeywell HTF7500E engines and the same main and nose tire sizes.
What tire size does the Embraer Praetor 500 use?
The main gear uses H26.5×8.0R14 radials and the nose uses a 17.5×5.75-8 chined tire. Always verify the approved sizes against the AMM for your serial number and configuration.
Which tire brands are approved for the Embraer Praetor 500?
Goodyear covers both positions with the Flight Radial 301-055-150 on the main gear and the Flight Eagle DT 178K03-1 on the nose. Confirm any alternative against the AMM and illustrated parts catalog.
How long do Embraer Praetor 500 tires last?
For midsize jets, main gear tires generally last on the order of 100 to 300 landings depending on runway surface and operating conditions, with the AMM and operator maintenance program setting the limits.
