Nextant breathes new life into Beechjets, Hawker 400XPs

By Chad Trautvetter

>> October 2008
Aircraft, Maintenance and Modifications

Nextant Aerospace (Booth No. 771) its touting its 400NXT–serialized remanufactured Beechjets and Hawker 400XPs with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, new Williams FJ44-3AP engines, several aerodynamic improvements and new interior and paint–as the “best value” in the light jet segment. In fact, the Richmond Heights, Ohio-based company said the modification is superior to the new Hawker 450XP, which was announced Sunday by Hawker Beechcraft as a new-production, improved variant of the Hawker 400XP.

According to Nextant CEO Kenn Ricci, the 400NXT program will transform Beechjets and Hawker 400XPs into modern, medium-range business twinjets priced for less than $5 million, including the airframe and a new interior. By replacing the Beechjet’s Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D engines with fadec-equipped Williams FJ44-3AP engines and incorporating a three- screen Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 suite (an option for a fourth screen is available), the NBAA IFR range of the 400NXT will be increased from the baseline airplane’s 1,464 nm to more than 2,000 nm (four passengers) while reducing operating costs by 27 percent. Aerodynamic improvements include redesigned engine pylons and new optimized nacelles.

The 400NXT will be offered as a remanufactured serialized production aircraft (meaning a consistent process) or, for those who already own a Beechjet or Hawker 400XP, as a $2.4 million modification program. Nextant is also offering its Beechjet/Hawker 400XP Pro Line 21 cockpit retrofit as a standalone product for $390,000, which includes installation. Estimated downtime for the cockpit upgrade is two to three weeks, and STC approval is expected in the third quarter. Downtime for the full re-engining, avionics retrofit, aerodynamic improvements and new interior and paint is 13 to 15 weeks.

According to Nextant, delivery of a 400NXT serialized aircraft will be like that of any new aircraft. The approximately $4.9 million remanufactured airplane comes with a 24-month “tip-to-tail” warranty, crew training, customer support and tech support, not to mention more than 40 zero-timed components. Additionally, the interior and exterior will be finished to customer specifications, the company said. Several options are also in the works, including the Rockwell Collins Venue cabin management system and winglets.

Nextant expects to receive its first set of Williams FJ44-3AP engines next month and have the Pro Line 21 cockpit upgrade certified in January. First flight of a full-blown 400NXT is scheduled for next June, with all STC approvals in hand in early 2010. Customer deliveries will start immediately afterward.  

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