The Embraer Praetor 500 is the updated version of the Legacy 450 from Embraer.
The Praetor 500 builds on the success of the Legacy 450 and provides an aircraft with impressive performance, comfort, and price.
Let’s take a look at all the differences and similarities between these two aircraft.
It is also worth noting that these are the two smaller aircraft in the respective Legacy and Praetor lineup, with the larger options being the Legacy 500 and Praetor 600. You can read about the differences between the Praetor 500 and 600 here.
In order to aid in this comparison we will be using our Premium service comparison feature, which you can learn more about here.
Performance
When it comes to raw power output, there is no difference between these two aircraft.
Both the Legacy 450 and Praetor 500 are powered by two Honeywell HTF7500E engines. Each engine is capable of producing up to 6,540 lbs of thrust. As a result, the total thrust output for both aircraft is 13,080 lbs.
However, the Praetor 500 is a faster aircraft in terms of outright maximum cruise speed, being able to maintain 466 knots during high speed cruise. Whereas the Legacy 450 falls 4 knots short with a maximum cruise speed of 462 knots.
Things change in the favor of the Legacy 450 when trying to get the maximum range out of these aircraft. The long range cruise speed of the Embraer Legacy 450 is 436 knots while the Praetor 500 has to maintain 424 knots in order to get the maximum range.
Additionally, the Praetor 500 is a thirstier aircraft, consuming, on average, 249 gallons of fuel per hour compared with the 215 gallons per hour fuel burn rate of the Legacy 450.
Both the Legacy 450 and Praetor 500 are capable of cruising up to 45,000 feet with an initial cruise altitude of 43,000 feet. However, the Praetor 500 is able to get there quicker with a climb rate of just over 4,200 feet per minute. Meanwhile, the Legacy 450 is stuck at a maximum climb rate of just under 3,800 feet.
Range
One key area that Embraer has developed the Praetor 500 to outperform the outgoing Legacy 450 is range.
The Legacy 450 is capable of flying up to 2,904 nautical miles (3,342 miles / 5,378 kms) without needing to refuel.
In comparison, the Praetor 500 is capable of flying up to 3,340 nautical miles (3,844 miles / 6,186 kms) non-stop.
This is an important range increase.
This difference enables the Praetor 500 to fly non-stop from New York to London, while the Legacy 450 would have to stop in Ireland to refuel.
Moreover, the Embraer Praetor 500 is able to, technically, fly non-stop from New York to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Madrid.
However, as with every manufacturer stated range figure, these numbers are optimistic. These figures represent a “best case” scenario. They are assuming optimum conditions and minimum weight. Therefore, real-world figures will vary.
It is possible to get more accurate range figures using the range map on Compare Private Planes Premium. The tool allows you to input the number of passengers onboard to get more accurate figures.
Even with the maximum of nine passengers onboard, the Embraer Praetor 500 should still be able to fly from New York to London with enough fuel reserves for a safe operation.
The difference in range with a fully loaded aircraft is more stark for the Legacy 450. With a full nine passengers onboard the Legacy 450 can just about get from New York to Ireland.
However, this would be with no fuel reserves. Therefore, it simply would not be safe to attempt this mission. As a result, the Legacy 450 would have to refuel on the trip over to Europe from the East Coast of America.
Ground Performance
When it comes to grounder performance, the Legacy 450 beats the Praetor 500 in the minimum take-off distance required.
The Embraer Legacy 450 requires just 3,907 feet of runway to get in the sky. In comparison, the Embraer Praetor 500 has a minimum take-off distance of 4,222 feet.
There are only a few situations in which a minimum take-off distance of 300 feet will have a significant impact on operational capabilities.
However, having a lower minimum take-off distance will allow for more airport options, allowing you to arrive and depart closer to your final destination. This will, ultimately, save you travel time, the primary advantage of private jets.
When it comes to landing distance, there is virtually no difference between these aircraft.
The Legacy 450 has a minimum landing distance of 2,090 feet. Whereas the minimum landing distance of the Praetor 500 is 2,086 feet.
Again, like with the range figures, it is important to remember that these ground performance figures assume a best-case scenario. That is optimum conditions and minimum weight. Therefore, these figures are the absolute minimum that you can expect from these aircraft.
Interior Dimensions
On the inside, the dimensions of these two aircraft are identical.
The interior length of both the Legacy 450 and Praetor 500 measures 24.02 feet, the height measures 6 feet, and the interior width measures 6.82 feet.
The benefit of these dimensions are that there is plenty of space for passengers to move around during the flight, the seats are width with a good amount of shoulder room, and both aircraft have a fully flat floor.
Therefore, it is no surprise that both aircraft are capable of carrying up to nine passengers each. However, the Legacy 450 has a typical passenger capacity of 7, while the Praetor 500’s typical configuration allows space for 6 passengers.
Interior
Deliveries of the Legacy 450 began in 2015, compared with deliveries of the Praetor 500 starting in 2019.
One key difference in the interior between these two aircraft is the inflight baggage access. Primarily, the Legacy 450 allows passengers to access the baggage compartment during flight while the Praetor 500 does not.
An area that is often overlooked when comparing aircraft is the maximum cabin altitude. A lower cabin altitude will reduce the impacts of jet lag and make the cabin more pleasant.
Given that these aircraft are so similar (you can upgrade a Legacy 450 to the Praetor 500 configuration for around $500,000), it is no surprise that the maximum cabin altitude is the same for both aircraft at 5,800 feet.
However, the Praetor 500 is able to maintain a sea level cabin until 27,140 feet compared with the 27,050 sea level cabin of the Legacy 450.
Embraer Legacy 450
It will come as no surprise that Embraer has developed a high-quality, luxurious interior for the Legacy. Both the 450 and 500 aircraft are constructed to the highest standards.
Inside you will first notice the flat floor and the six feet of headroom. The Legacy 450 is capable of carrying up to nine passengers. Featuring luxurious, fully reclining leather seats that seamlessly integrate with the cabin and are paired with a window to give passengers an unmatched inflight experience.
With its 5,800 feet, low altitude cabin pressure, and state-of-the-art noise-reducing technologies, the serene environment of the Legacy 450 cabin will invigorate you and ensure that you are well-rested on arrival.
Unique to Embraer, the entire cabin can be controlled from the upper tech panel. This panel is a convenient touchscreen that allows you to control the entire cabin and check on the progress of your flight. Built with an intuitive design, the overhead touchscreen panel ensures that you can get all the relevant information at a glance, while also being able to control your environment.
Embraer Legacy 450
Embraer Praetor 500
Embraer Praetor 500
The interior of the Praetor 500 is quite special, claimed to be designed with the intention of conveying feelings of being at a beach in Brazil.
The main cabin features 4 seats in a club configuration, with two forward-facing seats just behind. Whether you are working or dining, the cabin’s stowable tables (made of carbon fiber) offer plenty of space for activities, opening flush with the side ledge – highlighting the excellent attention to detail and superb craftsmanship throughout the cabin. The seats all recline and swivel, perfect if you wish to work alone or have a discussion with your fellow passengers. Of course, the seats can be converted into fully flat beds should you be flying during the night or fancy a nap.
The seats feature a stitch pattern that is said to be modeled after the stone walkways by Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, with the silk and wool carpets designed to represent the ripples in the ocean during a perfectly calm day. Additionally, the cabin noise level of the Praetor 500 is just 53 dB during the cruise and the maximum cabin altitude is 5,800 feet. These factors make the cabin ideal for normal conversation, working, or relaxing and will result in you feeling more refreshed when arriving at your final destination.
The highly functional galley will impress you with options, from a refreshing drink to a nourishing meal. Comprehensively equipped with a microwave, conventional oven, refrigerator, coffee brewer, and beautiful crystal, china, and silverware, the beautiful and functional galley makes your flight experience comfortable and fulfilling.
You will never be out of touch with the outside world when flying the Praetor 500 thanks to the state-of-the-art connectivity system – Gogo AVANCE L5 and Ka-band technology, making the Wi-Fi connectivity just as strong and reliable as the home or office. Furthermore, the aircraft’s Honeywell Ovation Select Cabin Management Suite provides full 1080P HD video streaming and immersive audio throughout the cabin. Unique to Embraer business jets, the upper technology panel with a touchscreen puts flight status information, ambient lighting, and access to cabin controls directly at your fingertips.
Charter Price
When it comes to chartering these aircraft the Embraer Legacy 450 is less expensive than the Embraer Praetor 500.
However, please note that there are many factors that influence the price of a private jet charter. Therefore, prices will vary depending on the mission.
The estimated hourly charter price of the Legacy 450 is $3,800. In comparison, the estimated hourly charter price of the Praetor 500 is $4,500.
Purchase Price
When new, the list price of the Legacy 450 was lower than that of the Praetor 500, with a starting price of just over $15 million. In comparison, the Praetor 500 has a new list price of $17 million.
Moreover, the Praetor 500 does not hold its value as well as the Legacy, losing around 3% of its value every year. In comparison, the Legacy 450 loses around 1.3% of its value per year.
Therefore, the value for a 2020 model year of each aircraft is relatively similar, with the Legacy 450 having an estimated value of $15.5 million and the Praetor 500 costing $16 million.
However, over 3 years of ownership that same 2020 model Legacy 450 will be worth just under $15 million. Whereas the 2020 Praetor 500 will be worth around $14.5 million in 3 years.
Additionally, the difference in price between a 2020 Legacy 450 and Praetor 500 is roughly the same as the upgrade cost from the Legacy 450 to Praetor 500.
Therefore, if struggling to source a Praetor 500 purchasing a Legacy 450 and upgrading it may be a sensible option.
You can find a Legacy 450 or Praetor 500 for sale at AvBuyer or Controller.
Summary
The Embraer Legacy 450 and Embraer Praetor 500 are extremely similar aircraft. This, of course, is no surprise given that the Praetor family is an upgrade on the Legacy series of aircraft.
However, one of the key benefits of the Praetor 500 over the Legacy 450 is the range. The increased range means that the Praetor 500 can comfortably fly non-stop between New York and London, while the Legacy 450 cannot.
This, along with the fact that both aircraft have similar operating costs (both fixed and variable), means that the Praetor 500 is a good option if you require an aircraft that can fly between these two continents.
However, if you do not require that, the Legacy 450 may make more sense given that it holds its value better and is slightly less expensive to purchase. Additionally, you always have the option to upgrade later down the road. The Legacy 450 also features better ground performance.
Either way, both aircraft represent incredible value for money, with impressive performance and interior comfort.
