Page 13 - Volume 16 Number 6

40
First Flight
JUNE 2012
PR
TWIN & TURBINE • 11
On May 3, 2012, Hawker Beechcraft’s engine First announced in October, 2010, the Hawker
test article aircraft for its ambitious 400XPR
modification of the Hawker/Beechjet 400 took to the air. The flight was made from Uvalde, Texas’ Garner Field, home of Sierra Industries, which modified the testbed airplane. Sierra is a long-time retrofit specialist, experienced in working with Williams FJ44 engines. This was the first flight of an upgraded aircraft with new Williams International FJ44-4A-32 engines.
According to Christi Tannahill, senior vice president, Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support, “The first flight of the Hawker 400XPR engine test article is a major milestone and significant achievement for our design and production teams. Hawker Beechcraft and its partners spent countless hours and great effort to ensure the Hawker 400XPR exceeds the needs our customers require in their light jet aircraft. We continue to see great demand for this upgrade in the market and look forward to certification and deliveries commencing later in the year.”
400XPR upgrade centers around three major improvements; exchanging the light jet’s 2,900-lbs- thrust Pratt & Whitney JT-15D-5 powerplants for Williams FJ44-4A-32 engines of 3,200 lbs-thrust, adding Hawker Beechcraft-designed winglets to enhance the wing’s effective aspect ratio, and upgrading the cockpit to Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics. Over 600 of the Beechjet/Hawker 400 series airplanes are eligible for the 400XPR upgrade.
An Uneventful “As Expected” First Flight
The liftoff and climbout on the morning of May 3 went off without a hitch, with Sierra’s CEO Mark Huffstutler and Hawker Beechcraft pilot David Newton at the controls. Reportedly, the aircraft climbed to 5,000 feet in one minute. The first flight was held to 14,000 feet, where a speed of 320 knots was achieved. Huffstutler said “This thing just performed flawlessly.” Certification of the 400XPR is anticipated to take place in September of 2012.
0X