When Hawker Beechcraft said earlier this year it wanted to
strengthen its foothold in international markets... the company
wasn't kidding, or making idle comments. In the early hours of NBAA
2008, HBC announced Brazilian-based Líder Signatures S.A.
had ordered 23 aircraft spanning the Hawker Beechcraft product
line. Líder, a Hawker Beechcraft dealer and authorized
service center since 1996, purchased what is considered to be one
of the largest general aviation aircraft orders in Brazilian
history with a value estimated at nearly $200 million. The contract
was officially signed by Líder CEO Eduardo de Pereira Vaz at
NBAA.
"Líder has been a partner with Hawker Beechcraft as a
dealer and authorized service center for 12 years. We’ve
shared a great relationship with them over the years and it’s
a tremendous honor to now receive one of Brazil’s
largest-ever orders from this great company," said Brad Hatt,
president, Commercial Sales at Hawker Beechcraft. "There is a large
demand in Brazil for our aircraft and we are thrilled that
Líder continues to sell our great products. We’ve had
an increasing presence in Latin America and our sales team has
really elevated HBC as the leader in the region."
The momentous order consists of three Hawker 4000, two Hawker
900XP, three Hawker 750, five just-announced Hawker 450XPs, one
Beechcraft King Air B200GT, four Beechcraft King Air C90GTi, two
Beechcraft Baron G58 and three Beechcraft Bonanza G36 aircraft.
Deliveries for the 23 aircraft will take place from 2009 to
2011.
The announcement came on the heels of the unveiling of two new
aircraft programs... the new Beechcraft King Air 350i, and Hawker
450XP.
The King Air 350i is new top-of-the-line model for the world's
most popular corporate turboprop family. While mechanicals and
avionics will be little-changed from the existing King Air 350,
Hawker Beechcraft has made significant changes to the passenger
cabin. Using what Hawker Beech terms an "exclusive three-step
process," the company says interior noise levels on the King Air
350i have been reduced as much as 4 dBA... which should go a long
way to alleviating what was one of the few customer complaints of
the current model. In fact, HBC says the improvements make the 350i
quieter than several competing jets.
Interior enhancements were also on the list of changes to create
the Hawker 450XP light business jet, in the form of the Venue
entertainment system and a new interior based on the Hawker
900XP. But far more substantive changes lie under the surface.
The Hawker 450XP sports new Pratt & Whitney PW535D
turbofans, equipped with FADEC and rated at 2,965 pounds of thrust
each. That power is flat-rated to ISA+20C, giving the aircraft
improved hot-and-high performance. Operators will also appreciate
the new Pratts' 5,000-hour Time Between Overhaul, 1,400 hours
longer than the JT15D-5R engines on the 400.
Rounding out the changes to the Hawker 450 cabin is the
inclusion of the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite,
bringing the smallest Hawker offering in-line with the company's
larger jet aircraft. First flight of the Hawker 450 is scheduled
for Q2 2009, with FAA certification planned one year after. The
King Air 350i is scheduled for FAA certification of the model
planned for Q3 2009.
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