The EV-55 Outback is a brand new twin turboprop designed as a mini airliner and cargo aircraft. The website quotes it as a new generation twin, “able to replace any utility twin piston aircraft and offer a more reliable and powerful alternative to single engine utility turboprop aircraft. High productivity, operational reliability and inexpensive maintenance make this aircraft unique money maker for operators worldwide.”

Although not yet in production, the prototype looks great and as a model it should add a unique perspective for those wanting something a little different. We’re trying to keep the scale profile and wing on our model, so the plans may later be enlarged for a 2 – 2.4M scale model. However, initially, our intention is to produce a smaller version of around 1500mm.

Construction will be balsa and ply, and as the aircraft has an essentially square fuselage, it will be quite simple to build also. We’re expecting this to be a great model.

Evektor EV-55 Outback – Design, Development, Production and Performance

The Evektor EV-55 Outback is a Czech-designed twin-engine turboprop utility aircraft developed to fill the gap between the single-engine utility aircraft such as the Cessna 208 Caravan and larger commuter aircraft such as the Viking Twin Otter. Designed by Evektor-Aerotechnik of Kunovice, Czech Republic, the aircraft was intended to provide a versatile platform for regional airlines, cargo operators, air ambulance services and military users operating from short, unprepared airstrips.

Although the aircraft successfully completed its flight-test programme and two flying prototypes were built, the programme was suspended in March 2017 due to financial constraints before entering series production.

Origins

Development of the EV-55 began in 2004, when Evektor identified a niche for a modern, economical 9–14 seat utility aircraft capable of operating in remote regions where infrastructure was limited.

The principal design goals were:

Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capability
operation from gravel, grass and unprepared runways
low operating costs
modern avionics
rapid reconfiguration between passenger and cargo roles
excellent hot-and-high performance

Unlike many commuter aircraft derived from earlier designs, the EV-55 was conceived from the outset as a purpose-built utility aircraft.

Development

Following several years of aerodynamic design and structural testing, the first flying prototype was completed at Kunovice.

Development milestones

Year	Milestone
2004	Project announced
2007	Detailed design completed
2010	Ground testing commenced
24 June 2011	First flight of prototype EV-55M
2012–2016	Flight-test and certification programme
March 2017	Programme suspended

Two flying prototypes and one static-test airframe were completed. Despite encouraging flight-test results, insufficient investment prevented certification and production.

Design Philosophy

The EV-55 was designed to combine:

the payload of a commuter aircraft
the operating economy of a light turboprop
excellent STOL performance
modern systems
rugged field capability

Particular emphasis was placed on flexibility, allowing rapid conversion between:

passenger transport
freight
air ambulance
parachute operations
surveillance
military utility missions

Airframe Design

Wing

The EV-55 features a high-mounted cantilever wing, chosen to maximise propeller clearance and improve operation from rough airstrips.

Characteristics include:

all-metal stressed-skin construction
high aspect ratio
large Fowler flaps
full-span leading-edge devices
integral fuel tanks

The wing provides:

low stall speeds
excellent climb performance
short-field capability
stable handling at low speed

Fuselage

The fuselage is an all-metal semi-monocoque structure with a large constant-section cabin.

Features include:

flat cabin floor
rear cargo door
quick-change interior
large baggage volume
corrosion-resistant construction

The cabin was specifically designed for rapid conversion between passenger and cargo configurations.

Cabin

The standard passenger layout accommodates:

9 passengers under many regulatory frameworks (allowing single-pilot commercial operation in some jurisdictions)
up to 14 occupants in higher-density configurations, depending on certification requirements

Cabin features include:

large windows
individual passenger doors
sound insulation
environmental control system
removable seating

Medical evacuation versions were planned with stretcher installations and attendant seating.

Cockpit

The EV-55 was equipped with a modern glass cockpit from the outset.

Features included:

dual large-format LCD displays
integrated flight management system
digital engine monitoring
weather radar
GPS navigation
digital autopilot
optional synthetic vision

The avionics suite was intended to reduce pilot workload while supporting both civil and military operations.

Landing Gear

The aircraft employs a fixed tricycle landing gear, reflecting its utility role.

Advantages include:

reduced maintenance
lower operating costs
improved reliability
excellent rough-field capability
simplified operation in remote regions

The main landing gear is mounted on robust fuselage structures designed to absorb repeated operations from unimproved strips.

Powerplant

The EV-55 is powered by two:

Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-21

Each engine develops approximately:

550 shaft horsepower (410 kW)

Each engine drives a three-bladed constant-speed propeller.

The PT6A-21 was selected because of its:

exceptional worldwide reliability
low maintenance requirements
excellent short-field performance
strong hot-and-high capability
global service support

Aerodynamics

Several aerodynamic features distinguish the EV-55:

high-mounted wing
large-span Fowler flaps
carefully faired engine nacelles
tall vertical stabiliser
high-lift wing section
streamlined fuselage

These features were optimised to provide:

excellent STOL capability
stable low-speed handling
efficient cruise performance
good single-engine controllability

Structural Design

The structure is designed for intensive utility operations.

Construction consists primarily of:

aluminium alloy semi-monocoque fuselage
machined wing spars
reinforced landing gear attachments
corrosion-resistant materials
easily removable inspection panels

The aircraft was intended for high utilisation rates typical of regional airline and government operators.

Production

Manufacturer

Evektor-Aerotechnik

Location

Kunovice, Czech Republic

Production status

Development suspended

Aircraft completed:

2 flying prototypes
1 static-test airframe

Despite significant international interest, no production aircraft were delivered before development was halted in 2017.

Proposed Variants

Planned versions included:

passenger commuter
cargo freighter
air ambulance
military utility transport
maritime patrol
surveillance aircraft
parachute jump aircraft

These variants were intended to broaden the aircraft’s appeal across both civil and government markets.

Specifications

Item	Specification
Crew	1–2
Passengers	9–14 (configuration dependent)
Length	14.35 m (47 ft 1 in)
Wingspan	16.10 m (52 ft 10 in)
Height	5.00 m (16 ft 5 in)
Maximum Take-off Weight	4,600 kg (10,141 lb)
Empty Weight	Approximately 2,600 kg (5,732 lb)
Useful Load	Approximately 2,000 kg (4,409 lb)
Engines	2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-21
Power	550 shp each
Propellers	Three-blade constant-speed

Performance

Because the programme did not reach certification, some performance figures remained projected rather than certified. The design targets and flight-test results included:

Performance	Value
Cruise Speed	170–220 kt
Stall Speed	Approximately 61 kt (target)
Service Ceiling	25,000 ft
Range	Approximately 1,000–1,200 NM (mission dependent)
Take-off Distance	Approximately 500–600 m (STOL target)
Landing Distance	Approximately 500 m
Payload	Up to 2,000 kg

Operational Characteristics

The EV-55 was designed to offer:

excellent short-field performance
simple handling characteristics
low operating costs
high payload flexibility
rapid role conversion
strong single-engine capability
operation from remote and unimproved airstrips

Its combination of twin-engine safety, PT6 reliability and STOL capability made it particularly attractive for regional operators in Africa, South America, Australia and Southeast Asia.

Legacy

Although the EV-55 Outback never entered commercial production, it represented one of the most ambitious European utility-aircraft programmes of the 21st century. Its clean-sheet design combined modern avionics, efficient Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprops, a spacious modular cabin and genuine STOL performance in an aircraft aimed squarely at underserved regional markets. The suspension of the programme in 2017 was primarily a consequence of funding and certification challenges rather than deficiencies in the design itself. As a result, the EV-55 remains an example of a technically promising aircraft that demonstrated strong capability in testing but never reached serial production.