A Flexjet Embraer Legacy 450
Embraer impressed the market when it introduced the Legacy 500 and 450 light and mid-light jets in 2014-15, respectively, with fly-by-wire flight controls and pilots’ sidestick controllers, the first jets in their category so equipped. This month’s focus aircraft—the Legacy 450—since has since been eclipsed in numbers by its newer derivative, the Praetor 500.
Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency certified the Legacy 450, based on the EMB-545 aircraft type, in August 2015, with FAA certification following weeks later. Embraer delivered the first copy to a U.S.-based customer in December that year.
The new jet was a “game-changer” in the midsize category, said then Embraer Executive Jets CEO Marco Túlio Pellegrini. Its certification “highlights our commitment to delivering innovative products that go beyond customer expectations,” Pellegrini said. “With its unique features, the Legacy 450 offers outstanding technology and performance, along with unsurpassed comfort and style.”
Seating eight passengers, the Legacy 450 is powered by FADEC-controlled Honeywell HTF7500E engines, each generating 6,080 lb. of thrust, and fitted in front with Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics. Operating at long-range cruise speed of 438 kts, and carrying four passengers and two pilots, a baseline Legacy 450 travels to a range of 2,575 nm. At max range, it is capable of flying nonstop from Los Angeles to Boston, São Paulo to Lima, Moscow to New Delhi, Singapore to Shanghai or Beijing to Bangkok.
At maximum takeoff weight (35,274 lb.) at sea-level altitude and standard conditions, the Legacy 450 requires 3,907 ft. of runway for takeoff. The 450’s maximum weights differ depending upon whether a service bulletin (SB 550-42-004) or an “equivalent factory-incorporated modification” are integrated in a given jet. On airframes that do not incorporate the service bulletin or modification, the MTOW is 35,274 lb., a limitation that is increased to 35,758 lb. on Legacy 450 airframes that do feature the service bulletin or factory modification.
Embraer introduced the Praetor 500 and its super-midsize sister—the Praetor 600, a Legacy 500 derivative—at the NBAA BACE conference in October 2018. The Praetor 500, which replaced the Legacy 450 beginning in 2019, comes new with winglets, increased fuel capacity, and more powerful (6,540-lb.-thrust) HTF 7500E turbofans for improved performance. Range is extended to 3,340 nm with four passengers, two crew, and NBAA reserves. Owners of Legacy 450s would be able to upgrade to the Praetor 500 standard for about $500,000, the manufacturer said at the time of its introduction.
Seating up to nine passengers, the Praetor 500 flies to a range of 3,340 nm at 417 ktas average speed with four passengers, two crew and NBAA IFR reserves; it requires 4,222 ft. of runway to take off in standard day, sea level conditions at maximum takeoff weight (37,567 lb.), according to BCA’s Purchase Planning Handbook.
Praetor 500 Deliveries Begin
Fractional provider Flexjet accepted delivery of the first Praetor 500 in December 2019. The factory-new list price of the smaller Praetor that year was $16,995,000, according to the Aircraft Bluebook. The factory-new list price of the Legacy 450 was fixed at $16.57 million from 2015-19. The Legacy 450’s average retail price—the retail market price for an average (mid-time) used aircraft at the end of the previous quarter—increased to $16.5 million from $12.5 million during that time.
The Embraer Executive Jets Service Center at Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Connecticut, completed the first Legacy 450-to-Praetor 500 conversion in June 2020. Conversions also were performed at Embraer service centers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Sorocaba, Brazil; and Paris Le Bourget airport.
The Aviation Week Fleet Discovery Database counted a world in-service fleet of 26 Legacy 450s and 84 Praetor 500s in December 2023. (Thirty-four of the Praetors had been converted from Legacy 450s.) Flexjet operated nearly half (50) of the combined fleet of 110 aircraft and was in the process of converting its few remaining Legacy 450s to the Praetor 500 standard.
The International Aircraft Dealers Association Aircraft Exchange website in December listed one Praetor 500, model year 2020, for sale and no Legacy 450s.
Spacious Standup Cabin
The Legacy 450 has a flat-floor, standup cabin measuring 6 ft. high, 6-ft., 10-in. wide, and 24 ft. long. Total storage space of 150 ft.3 is split between the main baggage compartment and an internal storage area that is not accessible during flight.
In addition to introducing the largest cabin in its class, Embraer said the Legacy 450 had the best “feels like” cabin altitude of 6,000 ft. Legacy 450s came with the Honeywell Ovation Select cabin management system, a refreshment center, and a fully enclosed aft lavatory. An optional forward divan seats two passengers.
BCA welcomes comment and insight from aircraft dealers and brokers for its monthly 20/Twenty pre-owned aircraft market feature. The focus aircraft for January 2024 is the Cirrus SR22 and for February the Bell 222. To participate, contact [email protected].
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