Hawker 200, King Air 250 Take Center Stage
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) launched the newest member
of its famed Hawker lineup on Monday, the Hawker 200, as well as
its latest variation on the venerable King Air.
Hawker 200 Unveiled At NBAA
Evolving from the Premier II program, the Hawker 200 has all of
the same segment leading characteristics and performance, but now
comes with more capability than ever before. The aircraft is
featured this week at the company’s static display at the
NBAA'a Annual Meeting and Convention at DeKalb Peachtree Airport in
Atlanta.
“We’ve spent the last 18 months gathering valuable
input from light jet customers around the world,” said Shawn
Vick, HBC executive vice president. “Not surprisingly, they
reiterated their desire to go fast, high and far – all in
comfort and as efficiently as possible. Based upon these
conversations, we’ve transformed the Hawker 200 into the
fastest, most efficient and most spacious, single-pilot certified
light jet you can buy. After tallying up the changes, there was no
question that this business jet had graduated into a new class and
deserved nothing less than being called a Hawker, a brand
synonymous with constant innovation, high performance, proven
reliability and unmatched cabin comfort.”
HBC says the Hawker 200 is unique because it allows you to fly
high and fast, without sacrificing comfort or cost. Flying at 450
knots and 43,000 feet, the Hawker 200 can perform the light jet
missions needed 95 percent of the time while going faster, higher,
farther and offering more comfort with its class leading cabin
diameter – all for a lower operating cost per mile and a
lower purchase price.
In addition to its new winglets, new powerful Williams
International FJ44-3AP engines, a gross weight increase and a
higher ceiling; the Hawker 200 also features a MultiScan Weather
Radar, ADS-B Out capability, and high reliability with a 400-hour
inspection interval and 10-year composite airframe warranty. It
will also have as standard equipment, a new Information Management
Server, giving it the ability to transfer flight critical
information such as FMS database updates, electronic chart updates
and maintenance diagnostic reports through either a Wi-Fi or
cellular wireless connection while the aircraft is on the
ground.
Hawker 200 HBC Image
The Hawker 200 program is in an advanced state of development
and on schedule. Following the first prototype flight in March
2010, the Hawker 200 has compiled more than 100 hours in flight
test. The Hawker 200 is scheduled for certification in the third
quarter of 2012, with first deliveries planned for the fourth
quarter of that year.
On the turboprop side of the house is the King Air 250, the
development of which resulted from customer-driven changes in its
Beechcraft King Air line. Vick said the new variant is the direct
result of a survey of more than 3,000 customers worldwide about
several aspects of overall customer experience, including product
development.
“We are fortunate to have an extensive and loyal King Air
customer base. Through our outreach efforts, we learned our King
Air B200GT owners and operators are satisfied with items like range
and speed on this aircraft, but that they would benefit from
additional field performance,” said Vick, “We’ve
answered that call. With the King Air 250, Hawker Beechcraft has
taken a proven business workhorse and set new performance standards
through carefully applied composite technology, delivering serious
versatility for operating in nearly any environment around the
world. As the tenth major King Air product
Beechcraft King Air 250 HBC Image
announcement since 2003, no other aircraft line exemplifies a
more robust derivative product strategy.”
The King Air 250’s new features include BLR Aerospace
composite winglets to improve efficiency in all phases of flight,
composite propellers that provide new technology and lighter
weight, and engine induction modifications to increase
performance.
HBC says the resulting takeoff performance is better than its
predecessor and any other B200 out there. At max gross takeoff
weight the takeoff distance over a 50 foot obstacle is only 2,111
feet from sea level airports, which is 400 feet shorter than the
B200GT. The new hot/high takeoff performance is even more
exceptional. At max gross takeoff weight, from a 5,000 foot
elevation airport at 25°C, the takeoff distance over a 50 foot
obstacle is 3,094 feet, which is approximately 700 feet improved
over its predecessor. HBC says it designed the King Air 250 to
achieve its excellent field performance without making any
significant tradeoffs. In fact, they say, the King Air 250 offers
slight increases in high speed cruise, climb performance and range
over its predecessor.
Beechcraft King Air 250 At NBAA
“The shorter runway capability found in the King Air 250
provides our customers access to more than 1,100 airports that were
previously unavailable to them, allowing them to spend less travel
time door-to-door by flying closer to their final
destinations,” Vick said. “Better field performance
also provides peace of mind that comes with knowing you have
additional safety margin and operational flexibility when using
longer fields.”
Certification for the King Air 250 program is scheduled for
later this year, with first deliveries planned for the second
quarter of 2011.