Spectrum SA-550

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title: "Spectrum SA-550" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["basler-aircraft", "twin-boom-aircraft", "1980s-united-states-civil-utility-aircraft", "single-engined-pusher-aircraft", "single-engined-turboprop-aircraft", "high-wing-aircraft", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1983", "twin-tail-aircraft", "aircraft-with-fixed-tricycle-landing-gear"] description: "Twin-boom single engined aircraft" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrum_SA-550" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Twin-boom single engined aircraft ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]

Field	Value
name	Basler Turbo 37
Spectrum SA-550
image	Spectrum SA-550.jpg
aircraft_type	STOL conversion
national_origin	United States
manufacturer	Basler Turbo Conversions
Spectrum Aircraft Corporation
status	production completed
number_built	At least two
introduction	1983
first_flight	1 February 1983
developed_from	Cessna Skymaster
::

| name = Basler Turbo 37 Spectrum SA-550 | logo = | logo_size = | image = Spectrum SA-550.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = STOL conversion | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Basler Turbo Conversions Spectrum Aircraft Corporation | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = production completed | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = At least two | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1983 | retired = | first_flight = 1 February 1983 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = Cessna Skymaster | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded =

The Basler Turbo 37/Spectrum SA-550 is a twin-boom single engined aircraft converted from a Reims/Cessna FTB337G Skymaster by Basler Turbo Conversions and Spectrum Aircraft Corporation. The aircraft first flew on 1 February 1983.

Design and development

The Skymaster rear engine was replaced with a flat-rated 550 hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 and front engine was removed and the cockpit was stretched forward. The aircraft is capable of taking off in less than 450 ft fully loaded. Basler had a deal with the government of Thailand to convert their O-2 Skymaster to SA-550 and to convert civilian Skymaster in Thailand as well. These plans appear to have never happened.

The aircraft is currently owned by Basler Turbo Conversions of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Specifications (SA-550)

|ref=Flight International |prime units?=imp General characteristics

|genhide= |crew=one |capacity=ten |length m= |length ft=36 |length in=10 |length note= |span m= |span ft=38 |span in=2 |span note= |height m= |height ft=9 |height in=2 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=2600 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb=4800 |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity=125 US gallons (474 litres) |more general= Powerplant

|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27 |eng1 type= |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp= |eng1 shp=550 |eng1 note= |power original= |thrust original= |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=

Performance

|perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph=250 |max speed kts= |max speed note=at 15,000 ft (4575 m) |max speed mach= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=250 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=66 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note=flaps down, power off |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km= |range miles=900 |range nmi= |range note=with standard fuel |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=1600 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft= |disk loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics=

References

References

1. Flight International. (March 1983). ""Flying pick-up truck" takes off".
2. Cessna Skymaster Website. (n.d.). "Spectrum SA-550 / Basler Turbo 34".
3. [[Federal Aviation Administration]]. (November 2009). "FAA REGISTRY - N-Number Inquiry Results".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::