Hawker 200, King Air 250 Take Center Stage

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) launched the newest member of its famed Hawker lineup on Monday, the Hawker 200, as well as its latest variation on the venerable King Air.

Hawker 200 Unveiled At NBAA

Evolving from the Premier II program, the Hawker 200 has all of the same segment leading characteristics and performance, but now comes with more capability than ever before. The aircraft is featured this week at the company’s static display at the NBAA'a Annual Meeting and Convention at DeKalb Peachtree Airport in Atlanta.

“We’ve spent the last 18 months gathering valuable input from light jet customers around the world,” said Shawn Vick, HBC executive vice president. “Not surprisingly, they reiterated their desire to go fast, high and far – all in comfort and as efficiently as possible. Based upon these conversations, we’ve transformed the Hawker 200 into the fastest, most efficient and most spacious, single-pilot certified light jet you can buy. After tallying up the changes, there was no question that this business jet had graduated into a new class and deserved nothing less than being called a Hawker, a brand synonymous with constant innovation, high performance, proven reliability and unmatched cabin comfort.”

HBC says the Hawker 200 is unique because it allows you to fly high and fast, without sacrificing comfort or cost. Flying at 450 knots and 43,000 feet, the Hawker 200 can perform the light jet missions needed 95 percent of the time while going faster, higher, farther and offering more comfort with its class leading cabin diameter – all for a lower operating cost per mile and a lower purchase price.

In addition to its new winglets, new powerful Williams International FJ44-3AP engines, a gross weight increase and a higher ceiling; the Hawker 200 also features a MultiScan Weather Radar, ADS-B Out capability, and high reliability with a 400-hour inspection interval and 10-year composite airframe warranty. It will also have as standard equipment, a new Information Management Server, giving it the ability to transfer flight critical information such as FMS database updates, electronic chart updates and maintenance diagnostic reports through either a Wi-Fi or cellular wireless connection while the aircraft is on the ground.

Hawker 200 HBC Image

The Hawker 200 program is in an advanced state of development and on schedule. Following the first prototype flight in March 2010, the Hawker 200 has compiled more than 100 hours in flight test. The Hawker 200 is scheduled for certification in the third quarter of 2012, with first deliveries planned for the fourth quarter of that year.

On the turboprop side of the house is the King Air 250, the development of which resulted from customer-driven changes in its Beechcraft King Air line. Vick said the new variant is the direct result of a survey of more than 3,000 customers worldwide about several aspects of overall customer experience, including product development.

“We are fortunate to have an extensive and loyal King Air customer base. Through our outreach efforts, we learned our King Air B200GT owners and operators are satisfied with items like range and speed on this aircraft, but that they would benefit from additional field performance,” said Vick, “We’ve answered that call. With the King Air 250, Hawker Beechcraft has taken a proven business workhorse and set new performance standards through carefully applied composite technology, delivering serious versatility for operating in nearly any environment around the world. As the tenth major King Air product

Beechcraft King Air 250 HBC Image

announcement since 2003, no other aircraft line exemplifies a more robust derivative product strategy.”

The King Air 250’s new features include BLR Aerospace composite winglets to improve efficiency in all phases of flight, composite propellers that provide new technology and lighter weight, and engine induction modifications to increase performance.

HBC says the resulting takeoff performance is better than its predecessor and any other B200 out there. At max gross takeoff weight the takeoff distance over a 50 foot obstacle is only 2,111 feet from sea level airports, which is 400 feet shorter than the B200GT. The new hot/high takeoff performance is even more exceptional. At max gross takeoff weight, from a 5,000 foot elevation airport at 25°C, the takeoff distance over a 50 foot obstacle is 3,094 feet, which is approximately 700 feet improved over its predecessor. HBC says it designed the King Air 250 to achieve its excellent field performance without making any significant tradeoffs. In fact, they say, the King Air 250 offers slight increases in high speed cruise, climb performance and range over its predecessor.

Beechcraft King Air 250 At NBAA

“The shorter runway capability found in the King Air 250 provides our customers access to more than 1,100 airports that were previously unavailable to them, allowing them to spend less travel time door-to-door by flying closer to their final destinations,” Vick said. “Better field performance also provides peace of mind that comes with knowing you have additional safety margin and operational flexibility when using longer fields.”

Certification for the King Air 250 program is scheduled for later this year, with first deliveries planned for the second quarter of 2011.

FMI: www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.