Private jet manufacturers: Beechcraft Corporation
The Beechcraft Corporation, formerly known as Hawker Beechcraft, has been producing aircraft since 1932. It was first established in Kansas by husband and wife team, Walter and Olive Ann Beech, and initially used an idle Cessna factory for constructing aircraft.
The first aircraft they developed was the Model 17 Staggerwing, which took its first flight in November 1932. This model was a biplane with an atypical negative wing stagger where the lower wing is farther forward than the upper wing. It was popular with business travellers and air racers, thanks to its pace and smooth riding conditions. Subsequently, more than 750 Staggerwings were been built, and it continues to be one of the most popular planes with classical aircraft enthusiasts.
Towards the end of 2013, the Beechcraft Corporation was acquired by Textron, which brought together Beechcraft and Cessna to form a new division named Textron Aviation. Textron are an American industrial conglomerate that also own Bell Helicopter.
In 2014, under Textron’s leadership, Beechcraft released their latest business jet model, the Hawker 400XPR. This is a remanufactured version of the original Hawker 400, which took its first flight in 1978. There were more than 700 Hawker 400s built, making it an incredibly popular twin-engine jet corporate aircraft. The Hawker 400 is capable of carrying up to eight passengers and is a small, low-winged twin-turbofan aircraft.
The new light business jet Hawker 400XPR has a range of more than 2,000 nautical miles and a maximum cruising altitude of 45,000 feet. The aircraft can seat up to nine passengers, although eight is recommended to allow for more space and increased comfort. The aircraft is an impressive 32% more cost-efficient than the average light private jet, thanks to increased fuel economy.
Today there are around 18,000 owners of Beechcraft Corporation aircraft worldwide. The Beechcraft Corporation have a network of ten facilities spread across the UK, United States and Mexico, and also have close to one hundred authorised service centres around the world. This makes it easy and convenient for owners to service and maintain their aircraft to the highest standards wherever they are.
Images courtesy of Arpingstone, YSSYguy
