Page 8 - Volume 16 Number 1

As we continue aft toward the right wing, the impressive 20° leading-edge sweep is very apparent. The polished, heated leading edge contains stall strips on the inboard portion and airflow separation devices on the outboard portion, for improved slow flight handling qualities.A roll assist system was incorporated into the flight control system of the Premier IA to help meet some of the performance and handling targets of the original design. In addition to conventional ailerons, the IA’s roll assist system uses outboard spoilers, similar to those on the Hawker 400XP, formerly known as the Beechjet or Diamond Jet. Due to the Premier IAs high wing sweep, relatively large flaps are needed to provide adequate lift during take-off and landing. As a result, the ailerons are kept smaller. To help give adequate6 • TWIN & TURBINEroll handling characteristics, engineers introduced spoiler- assisted roll control whenever the control yoke is rotated more than 10°. The Premier IA has a total of three upper-surface drag devices per wing. The most outboard device is used for roll assist, the middle device is used as a speed brake, and the most inboard device is used for lift dump after landing or during a rejected takeoff.Moving aft of the right wing, we opened the right-hand aft maintenance bay, which contains the engine oil and hydraulic test areas. There is no need to visually check actual oil and hydraulic levels; simply depress the test buttons and check to see if the appropriate series of lights come on. The right-hand aft maintenance bay also houses the electronic fuel computer, main shipbattery, and air conditioning fan and compressor.PowerplantsThe Premier IA is powered by Williams International FJ-44-2A engines, producing 2,300 lbs of thrust each. Engine control on the Premier IA is managed by an Electronic Engine Control (EEC) system, backed up with mechanical controls linked directly from the thrust levers to the engines. Should the EEC system fail, a flip of a toggle switch just above the engine-start buttons transfers engine control from the EEC to the mechanical linkages. The EEC system on the Premier IA is similar, yet different from the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) found on most production light jets today. The principal difference is that the latter does not have a mechanical linkage to the engine. In addition, FADEC provides auto-ignition control and a second electronic engine control channel, should the first channel fail, ultimately reducing system complexity, weight, and maintenance cost.InteriorUpon entering the cabin, one is impressed by the cavernous space in the near-standup cabin. The fit and finish of the cabin is without question the best-in- class. The standard Premier IA configuration includes a four-seat club arrangement plus two forward facing seats in the most-aft row. The fully-enclosed lavatory area in the aft cabin also houses a non-belted, internally-serviced lavatory and a 20 cubic-foot internal luggage storage space, across from the potty.As I maneuvered forward and slipped into the left cockpit seat, I was pleased with how easy ingress and egress were. The three-screen ProLine 21 installation with dual control display units (CDUs), used to manage the FMS-3000 flight management system, is well suited for single pilot operations.JANUARY 2012