Source
r/WeirdWings•
FlyMachine79

Hustler 500, a turboprop in the nose and turbofan in the tail, the 'new way of flying' in business aviation 1978

On January 11 1978 the first 'American Jet' (later Gulfstream) Hustler prototype flew its maiden flights as a single-engine aircraft on the P&W PT6-41Turboprop, certification flights were flown in 1979 on both engines (P&W JT15D-1 in the tail). The published performance specs were as follows: Maximum cruise speed 400kts with climb rates up to 4950ftpm, economy cruise range 2000nm on both engines stretched to 2550nm just on TP power at 30 000ft, respectable for its class and its time. The idea was to offer the duel economy option of flying on either jet or turboprop power. Later development saw a Garret powerplant in the nose. The project was ultimately suspended due to the recession but the concept was utilized in part in the Gulfstream Peregrine 500 aircraft.

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Capacity: Four or five passengers
  • Length: 41 ft 3 in (12.57 m)
  • Wingspan: 34 ft 5 in (10.49 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 2.5 in (4.03 m)
  • Wing area: 190.71 sq ft (17.72 m2)
  • Empty weight: 5,430 lb (2,463 kg)
  • Gross weight: 10,000 lb (4,536 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × P&W TP6-41 turboprop - later the Garrett TPE331-10-501 turboprop , 900 hp (671 kW)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1 turbofan , 2,200 lbf (9.8 kN) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 402 mph (647 km/h, 349 kn)
  • Range: 2,303 mi (3,706 km, 2,001 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 38,000 ft (11,580 m)

https://preview.redd.it/89qquvhajhu61.png?width=1130&format=png&auto=webp&s=ad13b4a92fccb16af78744da469f6ff4d965b28d

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The prototype in 1979 with the early T-Tail and minus the tail jet engine which was initially added as a backup safety feature only!

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Posted Apr 21, 2021, 8:08 AM UTC · edited

216
FatPatsThong•

Interestingly, the specs seem to be relatively comparable to the modern day TBM 800/900 line (minus the turbofan)

3
FlyMachine79OP•

I believe they were optimistic to say the least, the concept had many flaws and was never fully tested

1
dyslexic_tigger•

where is the intake for the turbofan ?

2
callsignhotdog•

Base don the sketch, it looks like it might be in the base of the tail, there's what looks like a triangular intake there.

4
FlyMachine79OP•

at the base of the tail - quite an obvious obscenity that looks out of place - the engine was installed in a very similar configuration to the L1011 airliner, exhausting at the tail cone - in photos without this the jet engine was not yet fitted, as described they certification flights were flown with the turboprop, the second engine was added as a safety feature later which then became a selling point

2
FlyMachine79OP•

To me, from the nose to the tail it looks like a PC-12 met a Lear 35 which met a Gulfstream. I have a cutaway drawing that shows clear Lea commonalities although I can't find a direct link, the wrap-around windshield, wings and tip tanks, fuselage cabin - all Lear, the empennage very much Gulfstream and the nose PC-12/TBM ish.

2