Beechcraft Premier

infobox Aircraft
name = Premier



caption = Raytheon 390 Premier IA
type = Civil utility aircraft
manufacturer = Raytheon/Hawker Beechcraft
designer =
first flight = December 22 1998
introduced =
retired =
status = Active
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 260+ [The [http://www.laasdata.com/corpjet/corpjetctry.php?t=Beech%20390%20Premier&nnum=26&c= LAASdata Premier One production list] as of mid-August 2008 lists RB-263 as the highest c/no. of Premier Ones. Web page retrieved 23 August 2008.]
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =

The Beechcraft Premier is the name given to a series of light jet aircraft made by the Beechcraft division of Hawker Beechcraft. The series consists of the Model 390 Premier I and the Premier II. The aircraft was designed to compete with the Cessna CitationJet series of aircraft. [http://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/stats.main?id=334 Airliners.net Premier I page.] Retrieved: 23 August 2008.]

Development

Design of the Premier I began early in 1994 under the designation PD-374 (PD for Preliminary Design), and development was authorized to continue early the following year. The aircraft was officially launched at the annual National Business Aviation Association Convention in September 1995 and construction of the first prototype commenced late in 1996.The Premier I prototype was "rolled out" on 19 August 1998 and its first flight was on 22 December 1998; four prototypes were used in the flight test program and its FAA Type Certificate was issued on 23 March, 2001. On 22 September 2005, the upgraded Premier IA was certified.

Future Development

On 19 May 2008 Hawker Beechcraft announced the launch of the Premier II. [ [http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/beechcraft/aircraft/jets/premierII/ Beechcraft Premier II website] ] Developed from the Premier IA, the new aircraft will feature higher cruise speeds, a 20% longer range with four passenger, and increased payload. The aircraft will continue to feature composite materials for the fuselage, more powerful engines and new winglets to achieve performance improvements over the previous model. First flight is scheduled for April 2009, with FAA certification planned for the first half of 2010. [ [http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/include/content_view.aspx?id=10046 "Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Goes Higher, Farther and Faster with the New Premier II"] , Hawker Beechcraft Media Release. Retrieved: 23 August 2008.] Hawker Beechcraft claims to have received orders for several dozen Premier IIs. [ [http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/include/content_view.aspx?id=10052 "Hawker Beechcraft Receives More Than 70 Commitments for New Premier II"] , Hawker Beechcraft Media Release. Retrieved: 23 August 2008.]

Design

The Premier I is constructed with high-strength composite, carbon fiber/epoxy honeycomb fuselage. The Premier I and IA can be certified as light aircraft for operation by a single pilot. The powerplants are Williams International FJ44-2A engines.

Variants

*Premier I - basic version, introduced in 2001.
*Premier IA - new cabin interior and improved systems.
*Premier II - new engines and wingtips, range increased with no extra fuel.

pecifications (Premier IA)

aircraft specifications
crew=1-2
capacity=6-7 passengers (depending on crew complement)
length main=46 ft 0 in
length alt=14.02 m
span main=44 ft 6 in
span alt=13.56m
height main=15 ft 4 in
height alt=4.67 m
empty weight main=8,430lb
empty weight alt=3,824 kg
max takeoff weight main=12,500 lb
max takeoff weight alt=5,670 kg
cabin length=13 ft 6 in
cabin length alt=4.11 m
cabin height=5 ft 5 in
cabin height alt=1.65 m
cabin width=5 ft 6 in
cabin width alt=1.68 m

engine (jet)=Williams FJ-44A
type of jet=jets
number of engines=2

max speed main=519 mph
max speed alt=451 knots, 835 km/h, Mach 0.80
max speed more=at FL 330
range main=1,360 nm
range alt=2,519 km
range more=with maximum fuel and 45 minute reserve
ceiling main=41,000 ft
ceiling alt=12,497 m

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Hawker 400

similar aircraft=
* Cessna CitationJet CJ1

sequence=

lists=

see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/beechcraft/aircraft/jets/premierIA/ Beechcraft Premier IA website]
* [http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/beechcraft/aircraft/jets/premierII/ Beechcraft Premier II website]