Raytheon Aircraft Company Announces Orders for 112 Aircraft Worth Nearly $1 Billion at NBAA

Raytheon Aircraft is bragging again... and for darned good reason. RAC has reported strong customer orders resulting from products announced and/or exhibited at the 2006 NBAA Convention, held recently in Orlando, Fla. RAC received orders for 112 Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft worth nearly $1 billion. Deliveries will occur over the next two years.

“Results from this year’s NBAA show were outstanding,” said Jim Schuster, Raytheon Aircraft Company’s Chairman and CEO. “The introduction of two new Hawker models and strong international interest made this one of our best shows ever.”

During the show, RAC announced two new Hawker variants, the Hawker 900XP and Hawker 750 for the mid-size and light-mid size jet markets. These two products will leverage the success of the Hawker 800-series cabin.

The Hawker 900XP launches Honeywell’s new TFE731-50R engine providing improved hot and high altitude performance with over 2,800 nm NBAA IFR range carrying six passengers allowing it to make a one-stop flight from New York to Honolulu 99.9 percent of the time. It also will have the same cabin size as the Hawker 800-series, the largest and most successful cabin in its class. Featuring a factory-customized interior by the Little Rock Completion Center, and RAC-designed winglets, the 900XP will be well positioned to continue to be the most preferred airplane in the mid-size segment. Standard priced at $13.9 million, certification is expected mid-year 2007 with deliveries to begin in the 3rd Quarter.

Following market analysis and a review of the Hawker product line, Raytheon tells ANN that, "it became apparent an opportunity was not being satisfied in the light-mid size jet market. The new Hawker 750 is being developed to satisfy that opportunity, and will be a 2,100 nm NBAA IFR range airplane with four passengers, strategically positioned with the largest cabin in the light-mid size aircraft segment." It will have the same cabin as the Hawker 800-series, but the ventral fuel tank will be replaced with a heated external baggage compartment with 32 cubic feet of additional baggage capacity. The Hawker 750 cabin, measuring 5’9” in height and 6’0” in width will be far superior in both comfort and size to anything in the light-mid size category. The airplane will continue to use the Honeywell TFE731-5BR engine and state-of-the-art Collins Pro Line 21 avionics package. The aircraft will feature a new Hawker interior designed specifically for the 750 and for this market segment. Priced at $11.2 million standard and $11.9 million typically equipped in 2007 dollars, certification is planned for Q3 2007 and deliveries will begin in the Fourth Quarter.

FMI: www.raytheonaircraft.com