Beechcraft Premier I and Bonanza Establish New Speed Records to Oshkosh

Beechcraft is back-this time with speed. A Beechcraft Premier I and Beechcraft Bonanza established new speed records on their way to participate in FAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2003.

The Bonanza was out of the gate first, crossing the Wichita navigational fix at a.m. Saturday, July 26 and arriving at Wittman Regional Airport at 5:17 a.m. Total trip time: two hours , 59 minutes. Average speed for the 637-mile trip: 209 miles per hour. The aircraft, a Special Edition Centennial of Flight Bonanza created specifically for Oshkosh, also participated in Sunday's B20SH Bonanza formation flight.

On board were company demo pilot Mike Elsenrath and Dave Copeland, Vice President - Worldwide Piston Sales for Beechcraft. "We thought it fitting that the Centennial of Flight Bonanza show its great performance on its trip to Oshkosh," said Copeland.

The Premier I followed on Monday morning, crossing the fix at 6:52 a.m. and arriving at Oshkosh at 8:03 a.m. Total trip time: one hour, I 1 minutes. Average speed for the 637-mile trip: 536 miles per hour. Trevor Blackmer, chief pilot - sales demonstration flew the single-pilot route. Also on board was Joe Grubiak, product manager for the Premier I.

Raytheon Aircraft will submit the trip statistics to the National Aeronautic Association -- the national authority for overseeing and certifying aviation records -- in the category Class C-LE (6,164-13,338 lbs.) Group III (jet engine) for the Premier I and category Class C-1C, Group I, Piston Engine Light Airplanes (2,204-858 lbs.) for the Bonanza.

This is the second speed record for the Premier 1. Earlier this year it established a Wichita-to-Norfolk, Va. record in one hour, 51 minutes, with an average speed for the 1,152-mile trip a blazing 639 miles per hour.

FMI: www.raytheon.com