Hawker Beechcraft Racks Up Orders

A day after unveiling the mockup of its next-generation composite business jet, the Premier II, Hawker Beechcraft announced it has taken 40 firm orders and has 30 more in the wings. The aircraft is an update of the Premier 1A, which was the first (and still the only) all-composite business jet in certified service. It has more power, longer range and a bigger payload than the current model. "The customer response has been fantastic," said Brad Hatt, Hawker Beechcraft's president of commercial aircraft. First flight of the new model is expected next April and deliveries should happen in 2011. The company was also celebrating the sale of 10 of its top-of-the-line Hawker Beechcraft 4000 models, and options for five more, in a deal sealed on the ramp at EBACE 2008.

As AVweb arrived at the 4000 in the static display to tour the aircraft and prepare a video, we were asked to postpone the session as there was a meeting on board. Turns out that officials from India-based fractional and block charter company BJETS were signing the papers to seal the deal. The deal is worth more than $330 million. BJETS spokesman Mark Baier said there a number of factors that went into the decision, including performance and comfort. In a news release, Hawker Beechcraft noted the aircraft's hot-weather performance, something to be considered in India.