A500

About the A500

The Adam Aircraft Industries A500 is an American fixed-wing civil utility aircraft featuring a pod-and-boom layout with a push-pull engine arrangement. It seats six people and is powered by two piston engines mounted to provide centerline thrust, which helps maintain control if an engine fails. The airframe is constructed mainly from carbon fiber epoxy composite materials and includes cabin pressurization.

Developed from a technology demonstrator created by Burt Rutan, the prototype first flew in the early 2000s and received certification later that decade. The manufacturing company experienced multiple ownership changes, bankruptcy, and restructuring attempts involving potential relocations and proposed redesigns before ultimately ceasing business activities.

This page covers the Adam Aircraft Industries A-500 CarbonAero: the same aircraft under other designations.