Buyers Guide To The Embraer Legacy 500
This guide covers a Buyer’s Guide to Purchasing a Embraer Legacy 500 Aircraft.
The Legacy 500 has a rich history that dates back several decades. Its origins can be traced back to the mid-1990s when Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company, first began working on the project. Since then, the Legacy 500 has undergone numerous advancements and developments to become the state-of-the-art aircraft it is today.
Introduced by Embraer in July 2017, the Legacy 500 quickly made a name for itself as a mid-size business jet that bridged the gap between the Phenom 300 and Legacy 600.
Familiarize yourself with the specifications before purchasing a Legacy 500.
The Legacy 500 has a length of 68ft 1in, standing at a height of 21ft 2in with a wingspan of 66.5ft. The tail measures in at 24ft 1in.
The pair of Honeywell HTF7500E engines boast 7,036lbs of thrust per unit, while the Legacy 500 boasts a high speed cruise of 466kt and a range of 2,948nm. With a capacity of four passengers, it can cover a distance of 3,125nm and easily fly coast-to-coast across the USA. Additionally, its maximum operating altitude reaches an impressive 45,000ft.
The Legacy 500 boasts a state-of-the-art Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics system, equipped with advanced capabilities and functionalities. The cockpit holds four 15.1” high-resolution display screens, while Embraer’s fly-by-wire digital flight controls guarantee unparalleled levels of safety, performance, and comfort.
Measuring 27ft 6in in length and 6ft 10in in width, the stand-up cabin boasts a flat floor and remarkably quiet atmosphere. It comfortably accommodates two crew members and can seat up to 12 passengers, featuring a side-facing sofa and four convertible beds. Additionally, the cabin includes a well-equipped galley for added convenience. A spacious internal baggage compartment of 155 cubic feet is also available.
The Legacy 500 boasts advanced digital in-flight entertainment, including dual 19” LCD screens, enhanced sound quality, and convenient wireless internet and charging capabilities.
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Interested in the Embraer Phenom 300? View our Embraer Phenom 300 business jet guide HERE
Embraer Legacy 500 Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 68.0 ft (20.73 m) |
| Wingspan | 66.4 ft (20.24 m) |
| Height | 21.2 ft (6.45 m) |
| Cabin Length | 27.6 ft (8.41 m) |
| Cabin Width | 6.8 ft (2.07 m) |
| Cabin Height | 6.0 ft (1.82 m) |
| Max Take-Off Weight (MTOW) | 37,919 lb (17,200 kg) |
| Max Range | 3,125 nm (5,787 km) |
| Max Cruise Speed | 466 ktas |
| Max Altitude (Ceiling) | 45,000 ft |
| Engines | 2x Honeywell HTF7500E turbofan |
| Typical Passenger Capacity | 8–12 |
| Baggage Volume | 150 cu ft (4.25 m³) |
Legacy 500 Ownership Costs
The Legacy 500 represents Embraer’s purpose-built mid-size to super-midsize offering and its ownership economics are commensurate with that category.
Annual fixed costs for a two-pilot operation run from approximately £550,000 to £750,000, including crew salaries, recurrency training, hull insurance, hangarage, and administrative costs. The HTF7500E engines are covered most efficiently through Honeywell’s MSP Gold programme, which provides comprehensive coverage on a fixed hourly basis and is recommended for any operator expecting to fly more than 300 hours annually.
Variable costs per flight hour are in the range of £2,200–£3,000, reflecting fuel consumption of approximately 230–260 US gallons per hour combined, engine reserves, and maintenance consumables. The aircraft’s Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite is sophisticated but mature, and avionics support costs are predictable for operators enrolled in Collins Aerospace service agreements.
The Legacy 500 features fly-by-wire flight controls — a first for a mid-size business jet — which has implications for maintenance: the flight control computers and actuators require specialist attention that not all MROs offer. Buyers should confirm their preferred maintenance base has Legacy 500 type certification before purchase. Scheduled C-check equivalent inspections cost in the region of £150,000–£250,000.
Legacy 500 Market Position and Resale Value
The Legacy 500 is a technically advanced aircraft that competes directly with the Bombardier Challenger 350 and Cessna Citation Longitude in the super-midsize segment. Its cabin is genuinely large for the class — at 6.8 ft wide and 6.0 ft tall, it matches some large-cabin types — and the flat-floor design with a fully enclosed lavatory sets it apart from lighter mid-size competitors.
Pre-owned values for Legacy 500s range from approximately £7 million to £14 million for 2015–2020 production. Depreciation is moderate at 6–9% annually, though the fly-by-wire complexity does create some buyer hesitancy among operators without prior Embraer experience. Fleet size is relatively small — approximately 140 aircraft were produced before the type was superseded by the Praetor 500 — which keeps supply constrained and supports values for well-maintained examples.
Legacy 500 Variants and History
Embraer launched the Legacy 500 programme in 2008, positioning it as an all-new mid-size design rather than a derivative of an existing platform. This was a deliberate strategic departure from the Legacy 600/650 approach of adapting regional jet airframes. The Legacy 500 shares its fuselage cross-section with the larger Legacy 450 (subsequently rebranded as the Praetor 500) and uses a new wing with winglets.
The aircraft made its first flight in November 2012. ANAC (Brazilian) certification was received in November 2014, followed by EASA certification in December 2014 and FAA certification in January 2015. First customer deliveries took place in early 2015.
The fly-by-wire flight control system, active turbulence reduction, and steep-approach capability (enabling operations into airports such as London City) distinguish the 500 from all mid-size competitors of its era. The active turbulence reduction system — which uses accelerometers to detect and damp vertical gust loads — meaningfully improves cabin comfort on long sectors.
Production of the Legacy 500 ended with the introduction of the Praetor 600 (which it directly preceded), though Embraer maintains full type support. The Legacy 450, a shorter-fuselage sibling also discontinued in favour of the Praetor 500, shares many systems with the 500 and operators familiar with one type transition easily to the other.