Hawker 4000 Recognized for Six World Speed Records during NBAA 2010

ATLANTA (Oct. 19, 2010) – Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) today received recognition for setting six world speed records in its flagship Hawker 4000 business jet between October 2009 and April 2010. For the second year in a row, National Aeronautic Association (NAA) President Jonathan Gaffney presented the official certificates for the marks, which are sanctioned by both the NAA and the Federation Aeronautique International (FAI), to HBC Chairman and CEO Bill Boisture and Executive Vice President Shawn Vick at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Annual Meeting & Convention.

“These records are a testament to the performance and technology of the Hawker 4000,” said Shawn Vick, HBC executive vice president. “We are pleased to add these records to the growing list of accolades and positive feedback that we are receiving from the aviation community worldwide.”

The records were all set in the "Speed Over a Recognized Course” category. The six records were established between city pairs in North America, Europe and Asia. The most recent was accomplished on April 29, 2010, from Bedford, Mass., to London, England, a distance of 3,284 miles at an average speed of 542.70 miles per hour.

The additional five records, which were also included in the presentation at NBAA, were announced earlier this year during the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland. On Oct. 8, 2009, a Hawker 4000 traveled a distance of 1,253 nautical miles from Lisbon, Portugal, to Berlin, Germany, in exactly 3 hours for an average speed of 482.13 miles per hour. The next day the aircraft completed a second record leg between Berlin and Milan, Italy, with an average speed of 395.62 mph over the 448 nautical mile distance, in anelapsed time of 1 hour and 14 minutes. Then on Oct. 10, when the Hawker 4000 traveled from Milan to Bahrain in hours and 30 minutes, it averaged a record 480.14 mph over the 2,282 nautical mile route. Finally, on Oct. 12, the aircraft departed Bahrain and made a 6 hour and 57 minute flight over Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Bulgaria, Sofia, Croatia, Austria, Germany and Belgium before landing at London’s Stansted Airport in the United Kingdom. The average speed was 454.42 mph over the 2,729 nautical mile distance. Then in January 2010, the Hawker 4000 flew from London to Dubai, a distance of 3,056 nautical miles at an average speed of 540.39 mph.

With best-in-class field performance in the super-midsize category, take-off field length (ISA, SL, MGTOW) is just 5,068 feet (1,545 m). Climb rate is exhilarating, going from sea level to 37,000 feet in just over 14 minutes. Once at altitude, the Hawker 4000 accelerates quickly to its maximum cruise speed of Mach .84 (896 km/hr), maximizing customer productivity by quickly getting them to their destination. The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308A engines deliver 6,900 pounds of thrust each flat rated at ISA +22° Celsius and, combined with the Hawker 4000’s advanced wing design, provide stunning high altitude/hot temperature and short field performance.

press release