Extra 400?
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Age: 52
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From what I heard the aircraft is fine, a good performer and flies really nice, but they did the fatal mistake of pairing it with a new unproven liquid cooled Continental. Think that was the problem. The TBO is very low and when it comes to overhauls it becomes expensive. As far as I know the TSIOL-550 is not shared or used with any other aircraft, so one is kind of stuck for parts as well. The same airframe later became the turboprop Extra 500 which seems to finally be going the right way.
Here's an 11 year old review:
AOPA Online: Extra 400
Here's an 11 year old review:
AOPA Online: Extra 400
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: London
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I flew the Extra 500 on a demo flight last year at the Cirrus migration in Ohio. Same airframe but with turboprop. I thought it was a beautiful aircraft to fly, a real shame that there aren't more of them about. My only negative thought about the aircraft was that the interior didn't match the price tag. It needed to luxe up the passenger interior - if it could replicate the new Meridian/Matrix club cabin it would be bang on the money.
If I had a few more quid, I'd be ordering myself one of these.
If I had a few more quid, I'd be ordering myself one of these.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: EuroGA.org
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I saw the 400 at Cranfield 2-3 years ago.
It looked very nice, inside and out. The interior was nicely done up. Similar kind of stuff to a Malibu, etc. It was owned by some businessman and he had a hired pilot flying him around Europe.
Yes the -480 water-cooled engine was a market failure, but I have not heard of reliability issues with it. Lyco are OK supporting their old engines; they still support the IO-720 which was used in how many airframes? 1 or 2 at most. Mind you, the IO-720 probably has mostly the same parts as an IO-540, just 2 more cylinders...
The 500 is flying; I believe there are a few prototypes around, doing the rounds of exhibitions and airports here and there - I got this pic at Losinj LDLO last summer. Have they actually sold any yet? It has great range with full tanks, albeit being only a 2-seater (with luggage) then.
It looked very nice, inside and out. The interior was nicely done up. Similar kind of stuff to a Malibu, etc. It was owned by some businessman and he had a hired pilot flying him around Europe.
Yes the -480 water-cooled engine was a market failure, but I have not heard of reliability issues with it. Lyco are OK supporting their old engines; they still support the IO-720 which was used in how many airframes? 1 or 2 at most. Mind you, the IO-720 probably has mostly the same parts as an IO-540, just 2 more cylinders...
The 500 is flying; I believe there are a few prototypes around, doing the rounds of exhibitions and airports here and there - I got this pic at Losinj LDLO last summer. Have they actually sold any yet? It has great range with full tanks, albeit being only a 2-seater (with luggage) then.
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I know they have quite a few orders in the US now, and are gearing up for production in Montrose. Plane & Pilot had a nice review of it in the latest issue:
An Extra For The High Road - Plane & Pilot Magazine | PlaneAndPilotMag.com
An Extra For The High Road - Plane & Pilot Magazine | PlaneAndPilotMag.com
Join Date: Jun 2003
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Interesting review.
I got the E400 engine maker wrong; Conti not Lyco
The E500 has a great range. With avtur, this is a super machine for European touring where avgas is often an issue.
I got the E400 engine maker wrong; Conti not Lyco
The E500 has a great range. With avtur, this is a super machine for European touring where avgas is often an issue.
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: lac la biche
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extra 400
Love my Extra 400
Done 450hrs on it, flown it through thunderstorms,rain snow, ice
It is an exceptionally well built airplane.
twin alternators twin fuel pumps twin vacuum pumps , A/c, Aux heater
FIKI-Teflon/Ethane boots, full heated windshield, hot prop,
Dual heated pitot static system.
The first few aircraft engines had some reliability issues.
My plane had 1200 hrs on it when I bought it.
I bought a custom built RAM V engine for it.
RAM upgrades c-421 with the cont tsiol 550 B engines
It is the same engine with configuration differences.
The benefit of the TSIOL 550 is.
Can fly in -40 f without concern.*
No chance of shock cooling
cylinder head temps are always around 250 F
The plane carries 700lbs on full fuel 106 gallons
It handles like a sports car. The high wing and high wing
loading handles turbulence extremely well.
We typically fly between 16 and 24000 ft
Cabin differential is 5.5psi 8000. ft at 24000ft
will do 190 kts 15.5g/hr fl220 65% pwr
220 kts 22g/hr fl220 75% pwr
235 kts 30 g/hr fl250 85% pwr
Down sides In summer flightplan for 3500 ft runways
the plane was designed to fly high it prefers cold air,
A lot of good thought and engineering were put into this plane
1999 technology instead of 1950's for anything comparable
Done 450hrs on it, flown it through thunderstorms,rain snow, ice
It is an exceptionally well built airplane.
twin alternators twin fuel pumps twin vacuum pumps , A/c, Aux heater
FIKI-Teflon/Ethane boots, full heated windshield, hot prop,
Dual heated pitot static system.
The first few aircraft engines had some reliability issues.
My plane had 1200 hrs on it when I bought it.
I bought a custom built RAM V engine for it.
RAM upgrades c-421 with the cont tsiol 550 B engines
It is the same engine with configuration differences.
The benefit of the TSIOL 550 is.
Can fly in -40 f without concern.*
No chance of shock cooling
cylinder head temps are always around 250 F
The plane carries 700lbs on full fuel 106 gallons
It handles like a sports car. The high wing and high wing
loading handles turbulence extremely well.
We typically fly between 16 and 24000 ft
Cabin differential is 5.5psi 8000. ft at 24000ft
will do 190 kts 15.5g/hr fl220 65% pwr
220 kts 22g/hr fl220 75% pwr
235 kts 30 g/hr fl250 85% pwr
Down sides In summer flightplan for 3500 ft runways
the plane was designed to fly high it prefers cold air,
A lot of good thought and engineering were put into this plane
1999 technology instead of 1950's for anything comparable
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Extra 400
Last edited by windwarrior; 27th Oct 2015 at 17:30.
Join Date: Oct 2011
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extra 400
Basic empty weight 2974 pds MAx take off 4409 pds 106 gallon tank+
Unusable fuel +/-15 gallons 2 gallons for startup.
My plane with Dual alternators FIKI, AC, aux heat, full copilot instruments,dual transponders,G 530/430, EFIS, O2, Satphone, color weather radar, TCAS etc weighs in at 3220 empty.
The MTOW was set for European tax and landing fees Plane is less than 2000kg. 1999kg to be exact.
The Extra 500 has a Max take off 4700lbs Same airframe about 25% more power on takeoff, +/-10% on climb. Cruise power at flight levels higher in the E400
Unusable fuel +/-15 gallons 2 gallons for startup.
My plane with Dual alternators FIKI, AC, aux heat, full copilot instruments,dual transponders,G 530/430, EFIS, O2, Satphone, color weather radar, TCAS etc weighs in at 3220 empty.
The MTOW was set for European tax and landing fees Plane is less than 2000kg. 1999kg to be exact.
The Extra 500 has a Max take off 4700lbs Same airframe about 25% more power on takeoff, +/-10% on climb. Cruise power at flight levels higher in the E400
Join Date: Oct 2011
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Definitely not sensible. Both me and ATC underestimated the situation. They were suppose to vector me around the storms . It was good to know though that my plane was built by EXTRA and was solid as a rock in the turbulence which ensued.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: London
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You say you have color weather radar - is the slightly larger left wingtip fairing the radar pod?
It would be even better to use your weather radar to avoid them properly yourself. Personally, I would refuse a vector into a storm cell even if I flew in a Sherman tank.
It would be even better to use your weather radar to avoid them properly yourself. Personally, I would refuse a vector into a storm cell even if I flew in a Sherman tank.
Join Date: Oct 2011
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extra 400
Yes the radar pod is on the L tip. I used it to navigate through eight cells after all hell broke loose around me. It was a valuable learning experience,I don't want to do that ever again. If a 42000ft TCU is in the area, I'm heading out of province.I did invest in WX weather for a G 496 for long range weather after this. I want to see what's behind me as well. I didn't like getting trapped. Let me know when you get that Sherman off the ground I would love to fly it.
Join Date: Oct 2011
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Extra 400 update
I found a excellent solution to hot high weather concerns with the Extra 400.
I upgraded the prob to the mt b blade on a 337. 15% better take off, better cooling, climb and gained 6 knots at 12000 ft. I could not believe the difference in acceleration and climb out. I'm working with mt to get a stc
I upgraded the prob to the mt b blade on a 337. 15% better take off, better cooling, climb and gained 6 knots at 12000 ft. I could not believe the difference in acceleration and climb out. I'm working with mt to get a stc
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I'm extremely happy with the plane.
Installed a Ifd 540 today, replaced faulty garmin530w
Still figuring it out,
First impressions, really nice graphics radio sound much better crisp and clear.
Connected well with shadin air fuel data computer.easy fuel planning flight planning. 1 frequency button for host of predicted choices.
Will have to play a while too be confident on it.
No STC from mt prop yet, but easy to get it on a 337 in USA.
Extra has been excellent with part support, my requests got a response right away and replacement part within a few days from Germany.
Parts that are no longer manufactured had a replacement part handy.
Seems like I missed a stack of questions on the extra 400 in pm's
Please email me at [email protected]
I'm in contact with a few owners and we have a tremendous amount of info on the plane and solutions to problems.
Installed a Ifd 540 today, replaced faulty garmin530w
Still figuring it out,
First impressions, really nice graphics radio sound much better crisp and clear.
Connected well with shadin air fuel data computer.easy fuel planning flight planning. 1 frequency button for host of predicted choices.
Will have to play a while too be confident on it.
No STC from mt prop yet, but easy to get it on a 337 in USA.
Extra has been excellent with part support, my requests got a response right away and replacement part within a few days from Germany.
Parts that are no longer manufactured had a replacement part handy.
Seems like I missed a stack of questions on the extra 400 in pm's
Please email me at [email protected]
I'm in contact with a few owners and we have a tremendous amount of info on the plane and solutions to problems.
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Salisbury
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Can only echo the comments on MT's new prop on my Extra 400. Considerably better performance on take off, climb and speed. Seems also better at water cooling although probably not the best time of year to evaluate that!
We also recently swapped out our Garmin 530/430 combo for the new touchscreen equivalents 750/650. Fantastic GPS/Com/Nav devices. Touchscreen, intuitive, slaved to the S-Tec autopilot, makes approaches an absolute breeze!
We also recently swapped out our Garmin 530/430 combo for the new touchscreen equivalents 750/650. Fantastic GPS/Com/Nav devices. Touchscreen, intuitive, slaved to the S-Tec autopilot, makes approaches an absolute breeze!
Last edited by brentford77; 27th Feb 2017 at 07:46. Reason: photo added