Latest Aircraft Joins Light Jet Certification Program

The final pre-production Hawker 200 has completed its first flight and will now begin contributing to the certification flight test schedule, Hawker Beechcraft said in a news release Monday. The new Hawker 200 joins three other aircraft in the program, the first Hawker 200 and two modified Premier aircraft, and will be used for systems certification, functional and reliability testing, and interiors certification.

"The aircraft performed exceptionally well during its two hour, three minute flight," said HBC Executive Vice President Shawn Vick. "Development testing is more than 50 percent complete and the aircraft is meeting or exceeding all performance targets. We are excited about the Hawker 200 and are pleased with the progress of its flight test program."

The Hawker 200's capabilities include cruise speeds up to 473 knots (Mach 0.82), cruise altitudes up to 45,000 feet and a 1,500 nautical mile range with four passengers. It can perform typical light jet missions while going faster, higher and farther and offering more comfort with its class-leading cabin diameter - all for a lower operating cost per mile and a lower purchase price than the competition. In addition to its new winglets, the Hawker 200 features new powerful Williams International FJ44-3AP engines, a gross weight increase and a higher ceiling than its predecessor. It also includes a MultiScan Weather Radar, ADS-B Out capability, wireless database loading, and high reliability with a 400-hour inspection interval and 10-year composite airframe warranty.

HBC says the aircraft's all-composite fuselage makes the Hawker 200 the most technologically advanced single-pilot business jet in the world. HBC has a full scale Hawker 200 interior concept mock-up, which features an innovative layout that has been optimized for the light jet mission. The mock-up is an impressive display of potential future Hawker styling and an important tool for HBC to gather specific feedback on customer desires in the new Hawker 200 interior.

FMI: www.hawkerbeechcraft.com