Beechcraft nears delivery of the first Hawker 400XPR
Hawker 400XPR
Beechcraft Corporation has announced that the first three Hawker 400XPR aircraft are now undergoing final airframe modifications.
The first customer aircraft had a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics system installed in 2013 as part of the upgrade programme and re-entered into service. The aircraft returned to Beechcraft for additional modifications, including the installation of genuine Hawker winglets and Williams International FJ44-4A-32 engines.
The second aircraft is receiving new engines, winglets and the Aircell ATG 2000 WiFi Internet and voice package, while the third aircraft is receiving new engines, winglets, paint and interior. Deliveries of these first three aircraft are expected to occur in the first half of 2014.
“With the difficult market conditions for buying new light and midsize jets, we are seeing strong demand for our XPR programs,” said Brian Howell, Beechcraft vice president, aftermarket sales and business development.
“We offer the best upgrade solution for Hawker 400 and 800 aircraft, and with more than 1,600 of these in operation today, we are confident that our XPR programs will grow and continue to perform well. By opting to upgrade their aircraft through the factory, owners are able to add value and more effectively use an existing asset that benefits from increased performance, payload and efficiency at half the cost of a new comparable aircraft,” added Howell.
