More Upgrades

Raytheon Aircraft Company unveiled the new Beechcraft Premier IA at the 5th annual European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland. The Premier IA features a totally redesigned interior, avionics enhancements, and improvements in several systems. A 5-year limited warranty is standard.

"We continually listen to our customers' needs, and their feedback is critical to our product improvement strategy for all Beechcraft products," said Beechcraft president and general manager, Randy Groom. "With more than 100 Premier I's now flying around the world, the new Beechcraft Premier IA is a perfect example of the evolution of a tremendous aircraft, based on customer input."

These enhancements, part of the planned evolution of the aircraft, will be available later this summer. The 2006-model Beechcraft Premier IA features a more contemporary, streamlined and luxurious interior and offers more options.

The Beechcraft Premier IA features a new contoured cabin headliner that increases passenger headroom, with adjustable LED downwash lighting and repositioned passenger reading lights.

Cabin chairs have been completely restyled. Side bolsters are added to the seat back and bottom cushions for increased comfort New seat base contouring provides more foot room for fifth and sixth seat occupants.

Other improvements include a passenger work table incorporated into the lower sidewall and table storage with 110 VAC outlets and provisioning for the optional Satcom flight phone. Improved temperature control will help maintain a comfortable environment

Four restyled cabinetry choices allow the Collins cabin entertainment system with CD/DVD and Airshow capability to be integrated.

Flight deck upgrades incorporate Rockwell Collins Integrated Flight Information Systems (IFIS) into the existing Pro Line 21 (PL21) avionics suite. This offers Premier IA pilots a wide range of safety and situational-awareness enhancing information, including map overlays (airways, airspace, geopolitical) as standard features.

More options include: Electronic Jeppessen charts, XM Graphical weather (US), Universal Graphical Weather (International), and an Integrated Rockwell Collins HF System. A three-display PL21 arrangement versus a two-display in the Beechcraft Premier I, digital radio and audio systems and IFIS cursor control panel are all standard in the new Beechcraft Premier IA.

To keep pilots happy, the cockpit also includes improved rail-mounted sun visors and a 110-VAC laptop computer outlet.

The Beechcraft Premier IA combines several systems and design improvements into the package.

• New, standard 5-year limited warranty
• Pilot "Lift Dump On Demand" control for improved landing performance
• Improved hydraulic brake, anti-skid system for better brake feel and pilot feedback at all braking levels
• Sound dampening "acoustical liner" for lower cabin sound levels
• Lowered landing reference speeds

The new Beechcraft Premier IA, like its predecessor, the Premier I, offers a maximum speed of 451 KTAS (835 km/h), and 1,450-nm range.

Composite construction methods and metal swept wings provide faster cruise speeds, longer range, better altitude performance, superior handling and increased cabin size. The cabin is seven inches taller and eight inches wider than competitive entry-level business jets.

FMI: www.raytheonaircraft.com