Hawker 750

The Hawker 800 series has been rapidly adding new members since it was initially certified. The Hawker 800XP, a revision of the Hawker 800 with different engines and avionics, soon became the Hawker 850XP, a virtually identical model with winglets. After a successful track record of reliability, high performance, and consistent sales, the $13.775 million Hawker 850XP is being replaced by two close relatives, the entry-level Hawker 750 and the Hawker 900XP. The Hawker 750 will share the same engines, cabin, and major systems as the 850XP but will lose the winglets and a ventral fuel tank. These two alterations result in a significant weight reduction, which in turn impacts the Hawker 750’s performance enough to set it apart from its predecessor.

The cabin of the Hawker 750 is identical to the cabin of the Hawker 850XP: the design and dimensions are unchanged. The high-density 15 passenger layout available to buyers of the Hawker 850XP is no longer available; only the more commonly selected 8 passenger layout is offered. The Hawker 750’s cabin outdoes the Hawker 850XP’s cabin in baggage space since the Hawker 850XP’s ventral fuel tank was replaced by a baggage compartment in the Hawker 750. Between internal and external compartments, the Hawker 750 has a total of 79 cubic feet of baggage space; the Hawker 850XP has only 50 cubic feet available in an internal compartment.

The Hawker 750 uses the same TFE731-5BR engines as the 850XP, but performs significantly better on the runway due to its reduced weight. On a standard (59°F) day at sea level, the Hawker 750 can take off in 4,696 feet – 336 feet less than its counterpart would require. At an altitude of 5,000 feet and a temperature of 71°F, the 750’s runway requirements would increase to 7,094 feet – still 924 feet under the Hawker 850XP’s takeoff distance.

The tradeoff for the Hawker 750’s improved runway performance is its reduced fuel capacity: the 750’s fuel capacity is 8,500 pounds, and the 850XP’s capacity is 10,000 pounds. Although the Hawker 750’s range takes a hit, the loss in fuel is somewhat balanced out by its lighter load. The 750’s NBAA IFR range with four passengers is 2,163 nautical miles, 513 nautical miles under the Hawker 850XP’s range. The difference in range becomes more apparent when both jets are loaded with their maximum payload and required reserves: the Hawker 750 can fly 1,978 nautical miles, and the Hawker 900XP can fly 2,394 nautical miles.

So far some combination of the Hawker 750’s cruise speed, runway performance, range, and asking price has proven to be highly appealing to buyers, including NetJets, which placed an order for 30 Hawker 750s. Deliveries for the $11.95 million private jet are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2007.

Newly Certified Business Jets: Citation Mustang

The Citation Mustang is an lightweight at 8,600 pounds. The Citation Mustang received its full type certification from the FAA in September of 2006, the first VLJ to do so. It lies on the higher end of the VLJ scale with a purchase price of $2.5 million, but also with higher performance standards than the rest of the VLJ market.

The Citation Mustang can fly four passengers 1,000 nautical miles in three hours and twenty minutes. Fuel consumption for such a trip would be 1,715 pounds, making the Mustang remarkably efficient to fly. Like all of the VLJs, it is certified for single-pilot operation. Required runway length at see level is just 3,110 feet. It can carry a maximum of five passengers in its 9.8 foot long cabin and reach cruise speeds of up to 339 ktas.

The Mustang’s PW615F engines were specifically designed for VLJs and deliver the high levels of performance that Pratt & Whitney are known for. Similarly, the Garmin 1000 avionics system was designed especially for VLJs. The Garmin 1000 system delivers everything the flight deck of a larger business jet would have. To date, 250 orders have been placed for the Citation Mustang, making it one of the most successful business jets ever to hit the market. The next available delivery date is in late 2009.

Stay Connected In-Flight

If you are the type of person that must stay connected at all times, in all places, AirCell's communication system is for you. AirCell Axxess is a cabin communication system that will work at 55,000 feet while cruising at high speeds. In addition to high-quality phone calls, AirCell can provide broadband internet access and facilitate a fax machine.

follow the links below for more information:

AirCell Broadband

AirCell Axxess II Communication Systems

Do the New Engines of the Hawker 900XP Make a Difference?

The short answer is: yes. The Hawker 900XP’s advantage over its predecessor, the Hawker 850XP can be attributed to its TFE731-50R engines, flat-rated to 4,660 pounds of thrust apiece. Although they produce the same amount of thrust as the TFE731-5BR models used on the Hawker 850XP, they burn less fuel and require maintenance much less often. The inspection interval for the Hawker 900XP’s engines is 6,000 cycles, a marked improvement over the 4,200 cycle inspection interval of the engines on the Hawker 850XP.

See also:
Jet Advisors – Hawker 900XP
Hawker Beechcraft

Eclipse 500 Maintenance Program

One of the inevitable and unpleasant aspects of owning a private aircraft which falls into the “jet” category is the required maintenance. Routine inspections can be costly and time-consuming, grounding aircraft for days or even weeks at a time. Eclipse Aviation worked particularly hard to resolve this issue and designed several maintenance programs to fit differing owner needs. One option, the high-utilization program, requires only one single 8-hour shift to complete all required maintenance for every 75 hours of flight time.

Audits and Error Control

Jet Advisors has been in the information business for years, so by now we pick up on small accounting errors and flight time discrepancies. In fact, we have formulated an entire auditing process which we use to check our client's invoices. We find errors in flight times, fuel charges, parts costs, and other maintenance charges. Visit our website for more details on our auditing service.

Not sure if auditing is right for you? Check out this article on some common errors we find in our clients' invoices: Flight Time Discrepancies

Newly Certified Business Jets: Falcon 7X

The Dassault Falcon 7X received its full certification from both the FAA and the EASA in May 2007. This jet has been the cause of much excitement across the industry due to its complete fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control systems. Although FBW has been to a small extent in some business jet, never before has a business jet completely taken advantage of the new technology, which will increase overall flight performance, reduce weight, and improve reliability.

In addition to its landmark use of FBW technology, the Falcon 7X is the first jet to use an all-virtual design and manufacturing process. The use of the virtual design cut development time by almost fifty percent and reduced errors in the design and manufacturing processes.

The Falcon 7X is designed to compete with long-range business jets such as the Gulfstream 550 and the Global Express. It has a maximum range of 6,070 nautical miles while carrying eight passengers. It burns significantly less fuel than its competitors, cruises at slightly higher speeds, and features three high-performing PW307A engines. More than 160 confirmed orders have been placed for the $40.6 million business jet.

Gulfstream 550

The Gulfstream 550 was the first private jet in the ultra-long-range category. It can fly 7,760 miles (6,750 nautical miles). It carries 14-19 passengers and can be configured with a variety of cabin amenities. The Gulfstream 550 is powered by two Rolls-Royce Deutschland BR700-710C4-11 engines and can take off in 5,910 from a sea level runway on a standard-condition day. The cockpit is based on Honeywell's Primus Epic Suite, which includes EVS and HUD, which make it possible to complete instrument landings.

Specifications:

CABIN
Length: 50 ft 1 in
Width: 7 ft 3 in
Height: 6 ft 2 in

Cabin Volume: 1669 cubic feet
Baggage Volume: 226 cubic feet
Passengers: 14-19

PERFORMANCE
High speed cruise: 488 ktas
Long range cruise: 459 ktas
Sea level runway takeoff: 5,910 feet
5,000 foot runway takeoff: 9,070 feet

ENGINES: 2 Rolls-Royce Deutschland BR700-710C4-11
output: 15,385 lbs.
each inspection: on condition

6,000 nm trip with four passengers:
runway: 5,277 feet
flight time: 13 hours, 15 minutes
fuel consumed: 33,428 lbs.
(an example of a 6,000 nm mission would be Washington, DC to Beijing)

Gulfstream 550: description, history, and specs

Pre-Purchase Inspections

Anyone who has purchased a car is familiar with the pre-purchase inspection. For some, this may entail kicking the tires and glancing under the hood (for what, anyone knows). For the more fastidious buyers, pre-purchase inspections include test drives in differing conditions, a trip to a trusted mechanic, and research of the car's history.

Pre-purchase inspections for private jets are even more vital than inspections for cars (for obvious reasons), and are a lot more complicated.

Damage to the aircraft may be hard to locate. It often takes a very thou rough mechanic to find damage hidden beneath fresh paint or rarely-accessed panels.

Even damage that is admitted up front at the time of sale can be complicated: damage history of any kind significantly decreases the resale value of a private jet, makes it harder to sell, and usually reduces performance (even when full repairs have been made by the manufacturer).

Check out our Private Jet Buyer's Guide for more information on the Pre-Purchase Inspection process.

When to Switch from Fractional to Ownership

Many fractional jet owners or charter card members find it more convenient and cost-effective to switch to ownership as their needs change and their demands increase. When, exactly, should this switch be made? There are several factors to be taken into account:

-the number of hours flown per year
-destinations
-duration of stay
-type of travel
-departure points
-simultaneous jet use

For a more detailed analysis, take a look at an article recently published on when to switch from fractional or charter use to private jet ownership.

Fractional Options: Avantair

Of the many fractional companies available, only one uses the Piaggio P180 in its fleet: Avantair. To be more specific, Avantair only uses Piaggio P180s. If the name Piaggio doesn't seem familiar, a quick look at the jet will suffice to job your memory: the P180 has three lifting surfaces to distribute lift. The unique design of the P180 results in reduced drag and greater stability in flight.

Some say that the Piaggio P180 resembles a spacecraft, but a more apt description would be a finely crafted piece of Italian sculpture: everything from the hand-detailed leather seats to the sleek runway profile are reminiscent of Italian design. In more practical terms, however, the P180 competes well with the competition, delivering greater fuel efficiency, additional cabin space, and a shorter required runway length. The P180 lags a bit in terms of speed, but makes up for it in overall cabin comfort and low operating costs.

For a more detailed analysis of the Avantair's services, or for more information on the Piaggio P180, visit these links:

Piaggio P180
Jet Advisors: Fractional Ownership
Avantair.com