Adam A500 Walkaround
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- Adam A500, an American six-seat twin-engine civil utility aircraft that was produced by Adam Aircraft Industries. The aircraft has a distinctive, unusual centerline thrust configuration where its two Continental Motors TSIO-550-E piston engines are mounted in push-pull configuration: one at the front and one at the back of its fuselage pod. It also features a high wing and a twin-boom tail with twin vertical stabilizers, which gives it a very unique and recognizable profile. Unfortunately, despite its innovative design, the Adam A500 faced various challenges and production was ceased following the bankruptcy of Adam Aircraft Industries.
I was an engineer on the prototype at Scaled. If you look at the booms half way back there is a section that is a constant cross section. I think they pulled molds off of our original prototype, because when we first tried to fly it would not rotate on takeoff until it reached a speed that was much too high.
We came in the next day and Burt had ordered the shop to build a support structure under the tail, cut the booms vertically, roll the fuselage forward three feet, and graft in a three foot plug with foam and fiberglass to glass it all back together. A little body work and paint and go fly. It was the last of the wild f’ing west days
I think you can still see it in the shape of the booms.
Where did you go next?
😂
I've heard several stories about early RAF aircraft also. Lopping off tails and extending wingtips to make it stable, etc.
The flight controls are aluminum because we couldn't get the composite ones to balance. Most of the engineers that designed things on that aircraft were not aircraft engineers. To save money they hired anybody with an engineering degree, so that's why a lot of things are not aviation normal on that aircraft. That's why there are no gear doors. That's why the induction heating systems on the front and rear engines are ridiculous. I actually flew on 509 many many years ago and I also flew on 504 which is the fuselage you have behind you. Good to see that there are some out there still
More people need to read your comment. I'll never be a Rutan fan and I first learned about him when it was trade rags only. The Internet was unknown to most.
Rutan didn't have anything to do with the design of the A500. It was just based on the M309 that he designed and built as a proof of concept. In fact when Rutan visited Adam Aircraft he was not impressed. He actually left halfway through the tour.
@@bretproud3336 Well, I've never heard Rutan take responsibility for anything that didn't turn out well.
There will be plenty more fans to argue in your and Rutan's favor. Count me out of that herd.
Don't get me wrong. Rutan is a pompous ass in person. We were told not to look at him, don't talk to him, or anything. He is a brilliant designer. But he's arrogant.
Hey Brett! Thought of you when I saw this video.
Buying this airplane was a bold move and I admire and respect your mission. I own an Extra 400 and when you talked about your "parts bin" it put a big smile on my face. I consider myself luckier than you from the "inherited engineering" perspective. My path to satisfaction SHOULD be shorter. Good luck and safe flying
Great walk around! What an amazing aircraft.
It really is!
We like to think of pilots as being on the rational side of the human spectrum, but owning and caring for an exotic gem like this is just plain crazy. Lunacy or love dunno but its just awesome. Thank you sir !
The other day at work me and the fellow line guys stumbled upon seeing y’alls flight of the Adam on Flight tracker. I didn’t expect such a unique aircraft to be a stones throw away!
When I was getting my private at KAPA I used to go over the the Adam facility and you could watch them assemble the aircraft. That was a tremendously thorough walk-through of a unique, beautiful airplane. Thanks for posting.
Glad to see you got a top notch CFI to ride in the back to check everyone out on the Adam A500.
Haha, yeah it was fun having Bryan there.
such a cool airplane! Nice cameo by Mr. Turner.:). Also love the Fieros in the background
Erik makes me sit in the back
Im usually not big on the look of Push/Pulls but this thing is freaking slick, I love it !
The Bronco style twin boom with up-and-over h/v-stab design is perfect for push&pull planes imo.
@@davecrupel2817 I agree
Awesome video about this plane. There isn't much detailed information about it. Looking forward to in-flight video.
Wow if Dan is not famous by now he will be. Did not know that there are any flying examples. Gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing. Ran into an example of this aircraft after a flight to Georgetown SC a few years ago. Looked it up and did a little research on it. Always interesting to get insight into a Burt Rutan design.
Having a 1 of 3 is so amazing CONGRATULATIONS reason being why I have not seen any of these luxury planes in the sky thank you thank you so much for taking time out of your day for showing us such an incredible beauty of a plane. God Speed, Safe Travels, Fair Winds Good Sir.
Thank you so much for putting up this video. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This was one of Burt Rutan‘s finest designs. I have a giant scale, RC version of this plane. I love it.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fascinating aircraft! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Beautiful machine and it looks like there is plenty of room for a couple of PT 6’s😉🙂🙂👍👍
There were 2 models, the A500 piston and the A700 twinjet. Rumor had it if there were to be a A600 it would have used the 700 nose, the 500 fuselage, and a single PT6 pusher. The way it was explained to me (true or false) a single PT6 was more expensive than the twin Williams FJ33's we were the launch customers for on for the A700, so the A600 never got much past the discussion phase.
@@jetfixer3207 thanks for the additional info!👍👍
Amazing walk around and beautiful aircraft !
Many thanks!
Absolutely the finest walk-around I have ever seen.... ... .. .
Thanks a lot! Glad you liked it
I've worked on your airplane. Me and a close friend worked aircraft maintenance in Adam's flight test department. In fact, the empty fuselage in the background looks like Rick Adams personal bird, N504AX. N501AX which was seen in Miami Vice, being an uncertified experimental, was later scrapped. I have the overwing exit hatch. Those cowl fasteners are called "Ketema" fasteners, and I HATED them.
Ketema fasteners......about time I found the name. Thanks
@jetfixer3207 and @scavenom2008 What about the VG like mechanism(s) on the wing leading edge?
Leading Edge Triangles are what those leading-edge devices are called. One of the flight test engineers was Paul Robertson (Aeronautical Testing Service). He's still around here at the Arlington Airport in Washington (KAWO). Fly the airplane up here and I'm sure he'll tell you more about the development process than you can ingest.
A very humble pilot that loves and knows his girls. Most don't but this pilot makes me proud to be one.
I saw the thumbnail and wondered if this was Dan’s plane! See pics on his FB but great to see a video.
Great vid of a rear bird. I think the windshield heat aside from anti ice capabilities. It gives it flexibility for bird strikes
As a 337 owner I absolutely love the concept of this plane and remember going to see their tent at Airventure. I remember thinking the landing gear was carrier qualified. Too bad the economics didn't work.
I worked on the prototype at Scaled. Rick Adam owned a 337 and wanted the “next gen” push pull twin. Burt wanted him to do a boomerang configuration. I wanted to do a “next gen” Aerostar, but the guy with the gold makes the rules. The problem was not economics as much as weight. The useful load is very low. It’s very hard to beat the airplanes from the 60s-70s.
@@sstearns2 That’s amazing, I knew that he owned a 337 but I guess I missed that he was involved with the inception. As for economics, I was referring to its lack of load carrying capability making it generally undesirable as more than a 2 place aircraft….hard to sell.
@@jimhayes2786 Rick Adam paid for the prototype with his own money as I recall. He was the inception.
@@sstearns2 Yep read it too quickly and saw Rick Rutan, not Adam. Regardless cool group to work with.
That was great ! Greetings from prague CZ
Amazing video. Thank you for sharing. Learned allot about a very unique aircraft.
Glad you enjoyed it!
@Erik Johnston; I'm always grateful to you and the owners for your walkaround videos, thank you. Did Dan not want us to see the cabin area?
What a beauty!! Tks for sharing!!
Dang Ole Bryan with a “y”. 😊
Cameo appearance on the back row. 🙃
Haha
Nice aircraft. Love it❤. Sad you didn’t go flying with it. They where awesome products. Also sad, they couldn’t make it successful. 😊
Nice video! Well done
Thank you very much!
Pretty neat. Nice walkaround.. 😎
Glad you enjoyed it
"We're here to help" = extra useless weight. Sounds like what happened with the Starship! Thanks for the video!
I think other companies were using the FAA to undermine Burts designs…
It's just SO WEIRD: Everyone has the same set of rules, the same laws of physics but Hurt Rutan isn't a "one (canards) note" narcissist, he's a 2x+ victim.
Great informative video
Thank you.
Interesting for sure
enjoyed video
Glad you enjoyed
Did you shoot any footage of the cabin interior? That would be nice to see. Enjoyed the walk around!
Amazing plane. I have it in rc 1/6 scale!
that is beautiful
Careful when they replace certain parts they may keep them so to reconstruct the props or any other piece on your ADAM, for their particular needs.
such a rare aircraft. the only time i have ever seen one was on Miami Vice the movie (the florida one)
Cool plane, that rear wing looks like a giant Ferrari F50 wing or something
Those panels on the boom that go nowhere; I’m kind of wondering if they were originally meant to be cargo bays until they figured out the they didn’t have much room left for weight or if they are just inspection panels used to check the carbon fiber boom spars? Either way cool looking airplane. Would have been nice to have seen the designed refined and the useful load improved.
Those panels allowed for an aerodynamic fairing, the strength needed in the wing to tail section of the boom(which also housed the main gear) needed a structural box (44 plies per side of 12K toray 2510 fabric) to take the loads and torsion. Fun to see in structural testing what loads it could take.
@@davidrawley4461 appreciate you taking the time answer my question. I’m assuming you helped work on/build the airplane? I bet the tests were very exciting to watch and probably a little nerve wracking at the same time. I’m curious if they could have added cargo/luggage bays in the boom had they gotten the useful payload much higher. I’m thinking they could have if they had used higher horsepower turboprop engines.
You're at Redbird
Looks like a Cessna Skymaster had unholy relations with a Piper Malibu!
Haha, that’s the best description I’ve heard so far.
Dan didn’t say anything about the engine out performance, and I think I know why unfortunately. At 7,000 pounds and with 350 hp engines, the single engine power to weight ratio is about the same as a Piper Aztec, and Aztecs can’t climb on one engine. It deserves 800 ft/min single engine climb performance, but to get that the gross weight would have to be at least 1,800 pounds less.
I'm shocked you got Bryan to sit and stay quiet for that long
Haha
Could that panel be an access for inspections?
Will we get to see it flying?
Scribe
You should make a flight sim out of the extra fuselage.
I don't think anyone with OCD ever said "it is what it is".
There's five seconds from around 20:36 where the sound is missing. Intentional?
Just a glitch.
Think I've seen that guy lurking around in the back before.
Haha, Bryan Turner is a great friend of mine
is it just me or is it not odd to have the 28V panel screwed shut instead of a latch?
It’s not too uncommon to have it screwed like this. But it’s is easier when it’s a latch.
The F.A.A. made those poor souls sawzoll these beauties.....
Un-fvcking-believable...
While beautiful, I fear it will have the same issue as the Skymaster; noise. The cabin is in between the engines, so I'm wondering about how it sounds.
Longingly followed the development of this aircraft. I imagine that the airplane must smell like sex. Thanks for making this super informative video, Erik.
👍👍👍
That's what some people call a suck-n-blow.
😎
Coloquem legendas em Português, Please !
A cessna 337 and a piper mailubu had a baby
Cessna 337 Skymaster
Rutan is a genius
Not if you measure him by results. Check the specs of Starship versus King Air. It's no wonder Beechcraft took a major loss and cut up the hulls.
I'd be surprised if the flight where Erik and the (cameraman?) switch seats wasn't interrupted by the Adam 500 taking on more fuel (and only a LITTLE more fuel).
"genius" Burt has other "designs" that went nowhere but I and others I know don't like his Canards nor his eagerness to blame everyone but the lead designer; Burt Rutan.
He is the most well known aircraft designer and, in my mind, the least deserving of praise.
Except for solving the F-4 phantom spin recovery problem. Fixing the BD-5 stability and control. Designing stall-proof airplanes that thousands of people have built in their garage. Doubling the world un refueled distance record by circumnavigating the planet. Sending the first NGO private astronauts into space. Yeah, doesn't deserve to be famous. And You are?
Hey take this down, Br(y)an called first dibs on video rights!!!
Haha. We sure had fun making this one!