Introduction to the Hawker 4000 Jet
The Hawker 4000 is a super-midsize business jet: larger than a midsize jet, smaller than a large-cabin long-range jet. When it was delivered, Hawker Beechcraft described it as the first aircraft in its class to use carbon-composite construction.
History and Development of the Hawker 4000 Jet
Raytheon announced the design in November 1996 as a new jet larger than the Hawker 1000, then the top of its range. Under its first name, the Hawker Horizon, it was meant to fly in 1999, but the program ran late.
- August 11, 2001: the first prototype flies.
- November 2002: a development aircraft makes its public debut at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention.
- December 2, 2005: NetJets orders 50, the largest single commercial order in Raytheon Aircraft's history.
- November 21, 2006: the FAA grants type certification.
- December 2009: China's Civil Aviation Administration certifies the aircraft, and the first delivery to mainland China follows in February 2010.
Hawker Beechcraft filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 3, 2012. All Hawker business jet production, including the Hawker 4000, ended in 2013. The company emerged in February 2013 as Beechcraft Corporation without its jet business, and Textron Aviation acquired Beechcraft in 2014.
Design and Engineering of the Hawker 4000 Jet
The airframe's carbon composites make it lighter than a standard aluminum structure would allow, which helps its range. Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308A turbofans power it, each producing up to 6,900 pounds of thrust. The flight deck uses the Honeywell Primus Epic avionics suite, with an engine-indicating and crew-alerting system (EICAS), full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) and autothrottle.
Key Features of the Hawker 4000 Jet
Performance Specifications
These figures come from Hawker Beechcraft's own Hawker 4000 performance page, which marked them as preliminary:
| Specification | Hawker 4000 |
|---|---|
| High-speed cruise | 470 kt (541 mph) at Mach 0.82, FL 410 |
| Long-range cruise | 430 kt at Mach 0.75, FL 450 |
| Range, 4 passengers | 3,341 nm |
| Ferry range | 3,466 nm |
| Certified ceiling | 45,000 ft |
| Takeoff field length | 4,509 ft (maximum takeoff weight, sea level) |
| Landing distance | 2,916 ft (maximum landing weight, sea level) |
| Vref | 132 kt |
| Time to climb | 13 minutes to FL 370 |
Speed and Range
Hawker Beechcraft's mission figures with four passengers show what that means for real trips: a 600-nautical-mile flight in about 1 hour 26 minutes, and a 1,000-nautical-mile flight in about 2 hours 17 minutes.
Cabin Comfort and Amenities
Depending on the layout, the cabin seats up to ten passengers, with eight as a typical configuration. In an eight-seat layout, it can be fitted with fully articulated executive seats. The cabin is about 25 feet long, 6 feet 6 inches wide and 6 feet high, with an average of about six feet of standing room.
At the back of the cabin is a sizable baggage compartment. Ground crew can load it through an exterior door, and passengers can reach it through the cabin during the flight.
Avionics and Navigation Systems
The flight deck is built around the Honeywell Primus Epic avionics suite, with EICAS, FADEC engine control and autothrottle.
Cost of Owning and Operating a Hawker 4000 Jet
The Hawker 4000 is bought and sold only on the pre-owned market. Two points matter for buyers:
- Warranty: when Hawker Beechcraft restructured, it won court approval to cancel warranty coverage for the Hawker 4000, along with an upgrade and enhancement program for early Hawker 4000s.
- Support: with production over, check each aircraft's maintenance history and who will support it before you buy.
Prices and running costs vary with the aircraft's year, hours and condition. Get figures for the specific aircraft.
Comparison to Other Jets in its Class
Aircraft of a comparable role and era include the Bombardier Challenger 300 and the Cessna Citation X. When comparing super-midsize jets for a charter, look at the cabin size, the range needed for your route and the runway length at your airports.
Conclusion: Is the Hawker 4000 Jet Right for You?
For a charter, the Hawker 4000 offers a roomy super-midsize cabin and long range. For ownership, the end of production and the cancelled warranty make the history of each aircraft especially important.
BLADE arranges private charters of jets, helicopters and turboprops through BLADE Anywhere. Tell BLADE your route, date and group size, and BLADE finds a suitable aircraft from its operator partners. In the United States, all flights are operated by DOT/FAA-licensed carriers, and BLADE's safety team vets its operator partners. If a Hawker 4000 is not available for your date, BLADE can suggest other super-midsize jets. The private jet charter cost estimator on blade.com shows suitable aircraft and an estimated price for your airports and date.