Just four months after it’s
unveiling at the European Business Aviation Convention and
Exhibition (EBACE), Raytheon Aircraft has announced the
certification of the new Beechcraft Premier IA. The Beechcraft
Premier IA features a totally redesigned interior, Rockwell Collins
ProLine 21 avionics upgrade, as well as several systems’
improvements as part of the planned evolution of the Beechcraft
Premier I. The Beechcraft Premier IA comes standard with a
class-leading 5-year warranty. Customer deliveries began in
September.
“Customer feedback is an important component to our
product improvement strategy for all Beechcraft products,”
said president and general manager of Beechcraft, Randy Groom.
“We continually listen to our customer’s needs,
incorporating their ideas to make our products even better. With
more than 125 Premier I’s now flying around the world, the
new Beechcraft Premier IA is a perfect example of the evolution of
a revolutionary aircraft,” said Groom.
The 2006-model Beechcraft Premier IA features a more
streamlined and luxurious interior with more options for new
owners. Modeled after the Hawker 800XP cabin, the Beechcraft
Premier IA features a new contoured cabin headliner that increases
passenger headroom, adjustable LED downwash lighting and
repositioned passenger reading lights. Cabin chairs have also been
completely restyled, adding side bolsters to the seat back and
bottom cushions for increased comfort and new seat base contouring
for more foot room for fifth and sixth seat occupants. Other
improvements include a smooth single-action passenger work table
incorporated into the lower sidewall, improved temperature control
and table storage with 110 VAC outlets and provisioning for the
optional Satcom flight phone. Four restyled cabinetry choices allow
integration of the Rockwell Collins cabin entertainment system with
CD/DVD and Airshow capability.
Up front, the Beechcraft Premier IA’s flight deck
incorporates Rockwell Collins Integrated Flight Information Systems
(IFIS) into the existing Pro Line 21 (PL21) avionics suite. This
advanced upgrade offers Premier IA pilots a wide range of safety
and situational enhancing information to include map overlays
(airways, airspace, geopolitical) as standard features.
In addition to these standard features, options include:
Electronic Jeppessen charts, XM Graphical Weather (US), Universal
Graphical Weather (International), and Integrated Rockwell Collins
HF System. Additional avionics and cockpit upgrades now standard in
the new Beechcraft Premier IA include a three-display PL21
arrangement, digital radio and audio systems, and IFIS cursor
control panel. The cockpit also includes improved rail-mounted sun
visors and a 110-VAC laptop computer outlet.
The Beechcraft Premier IA also combines several systems and
design improvements into one functionality and improvement package
that includes:
- New, standard 5-year customer care warranty
- Pilot “Lift Dump On Demand” control for improved
landing performance
- Improved hydraulic brakes and anti-skid system for better brake
feel and pilot feedback at all braking levels
- Sound dampening "acoustical liner" that creates the quietest
cabin in its class
- Lowered landing approach reference speeds
The new Beechcraft Premier IA utilizes the basic design of the
fastest single-pilot jet in the world, the Beechcraft Premier I.
State-of-the-art composite construction methods combined with metal
swept wings provide faster cruise speeds, better altitude
performance, superior handling and increased cabin size. The cabin
is eight inches taller and eight inches wider than competitive
entry-level business jets, and the Beechcraft Premier I is also
built with fewer parts than its competitors for higher
maintainability and reliability. The new Beechcraft Premier IA,
like its predecessor, the Premier I, offers unmatched performance
with a maximum speed of 451 KTAS, and 1,430 NM range
capability.