Available For Sale or Trade: 1963 Howard 500 N500HP is one of two surviving Howard 500's.
The Howard 500 was conceived at the absolute pinnacle of piston-engine aircraft development.
Its performance remains remarkable more than six decades after its introduction.
Power is supplied by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB-16 radial engines, each producing approximately 2,500 horsepower. Together, they deliver an impressive 5,000 horsepower.
These powerful engines, developed from the same legendary family used in some of the most successful military and commercial aircraft of the piston era, provide the Howard with exceptional takeoff performance, high cruising speeds, and impressive long-range capability.
With a cruising speed of approximately 350 mph and a range exceeding 2,200 miles, the Howard 500 was capable of competing with many early turbine-powered corporate aircraft.
Its pressurization system could maintain a sea-level cabin environment at altitudes up to approximately 16,000 feet, while its published service ceiling reached 35,000 feet.
The aircraft was designed to accommodate a two-person flight crew and up to 12 passengers in executive comfort.
These capabilities were particularly extraordinary in the early 1960s, when the business aviation industry was only beginning to embrace turbine-powered aircraft.
Indeed, the Howard 500 became the last radial-engine aircraft to receive FAA Transport Category certification, marking the conclusion of a remarkable chapter in aviation history.
N500HP Today — A Rare Opportunity
Today, N500HP survives as one of the finest remaining examples of Dee Howard's remarkable engineering achievement.
Finished in a distinctive green exterior with gray and yellow trim, the aircraft retains the unmistakable elegance of its original design.
Its spacious executive cabin accommodates up to 12 passengers, offering an extraordinary combination of vintage luxury and practical long-distance capability.
The aircraft is currently undergoing an avionics upgrade with dual Garmin G300 MDF's an a Garmin Autopilot.
Its two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines have been overhauled by Anderson Airmotive, while its Hamilton Standard propellers complement the aircraft's exceptional radial-engine performance.
With approximately 5,984.5 hours total time and 588.6 hours since restoration, as reported in the Platinum Fighter Sales listing, N500HP represents a rare combination of historic significance, documented preservation, and operational capability.
Only a handful of aircraft in the world offer such a compelling combination of rarity, provenance, performance, and visual presence.
An Irreplaceable Piece of American Aviation History
The Howard 500 occupies a unique position in the evolution of private aviation.
It represents the culmination of the piston-powered executive transport, developed at the precise moment when turbine technology was beginning to transform the industry.
For its successive owners and caretakers, N500HP has represented something equally important: the responsibility and privilege of preserving a machine that cannot be replaced.
From its origins as a World War II Lockheed Ventura, through its transformation into one of the world's most sophisticated executive aircraft, to its preservation as one of only two flying Howard 500s, N500HP has lived an aviation life unlike almost any other.
N500HP is not merely a rare airplane. It is a flying monument to American engineering, the ingenuity of Dee Howard, and the golden age of piston-powered aviation.
For the discerning collector, it represents an extraordinary opportunity to become the next custodian of one of aviation's truly irreplaceable masterpieces.
Airframe
Total Time
5,985
Complete Logs
Yes
Airframe Notes
5984.5 Hrs. TTSN
588.6 Hrs. since restoration
Engine 1
Engine 1 Make/Model
PRATT & WHITNEY R-2800
Engine 1 Horsepower
2,000 HP
Engine 1 Time
588 SMOH
Engine 1 TBO
2000
Engine 1 Notes
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB-16
588.6 Hrs. SMOH – Left
Overhauled by Anderson Airmotive
Engine 2
Engine 2 Make/Model
PRATT & WHITNEY R-2800
Engine 2 Horsepower
2,000 HP
Engine 2 Time
165
Engine 2 Notes
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB-16
165 Hrs. SMOH – Right
Overhauled by Anderson Airmotive
Props
Prop 1 Manufacturer
HAMILTON STANDARD
Prop 1 Time
589
Prop 2 Manufacturer
HAMILTON STANDARD
Prop 2 Time
589
Prop Notes
Hamilton Standard 24E60-41
588.6 Hrs. SPOH – Left
A.D. 81-13-06R2 next due 10/29
588.6 Hrs. SPOH – Right
A.D. 81-13-06R2 next due 10/29
Avionics
Flight Deck Manufacturer/Model
GARMIN G500
WAAS
Yes
Interior
Interior Notes
Executive Interior with 12 passenger seats – Excellent condition
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