Hawker 400 - Design and Development

Design and Development

The aircraft was originally designed as the Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond, an all-new, all-jet development to complement and slot above the Mitsubishi MU-2 and provide Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with their top-of-the-line corporate aircraft model (hence the name "Diamond"). The aircraft first flew on 29 August 1978. It is a small, low-winged twin-turbofan aircraft of all metal construction, flown by a crew of two pilots and accommodating eight passengers in a pressurised cabin. Its wings use a computer designed, supercritical airfoil in order to minimise drag. Its two Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D turbofans are mounted on the rear fuselage.

Beechcraft bought the production rights and began manufacturing it as their own model, initially re-designated as the Beechjet 400. The Beechjet 400 was certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration in May 1986.

Raytheon/Beechcraft steadily developed their own improvements to the model, leading to the 400A in 1990. Improvements in the 400A include longer range, higher take-off weights and improved luxury appointments. An all-glass flight deck was also offered. Beechcraft also developed a version for the United States Air Force known as the T-1A Jayhawk, used as a trainer for large aircraft crews (such as tankers and strategic transports). A total of 180 T-1A trainers were delivered between 1992 and 1997. Another military variant is the Japan Air Self-Defense Force 400T trainer which shares the same Type Certificate as the T-1A.

In 1993 Raytheon purchased the Hawker business jet product line from British Aerospace. The Beechjet 400 was eventually renamed the Hawker 400 to map it into the Hawker product line. The Hawker 400XP incorporates further aerodynamic, mechanical and interior improvements gleaned from the Hawker 800XP.

In October 2008, Hawker Beechcraft announced upgrades to the design, resulting in the new model designation Hawker 450XP. Upgrades were to include new, more fuel efficient engines (Pratt & Whitney PW535Ds with 2,965 pounds of thrust each). The Hawker 450XP was canceled in June 2009 due to poor economic conditions.

Nextant Aerospace developed a program to remanufacture the Beechjet 400A, replacing the Pratt & Whitney engines with Williams FJ44s, plus a new avionics suite and interior, among other improvements. The remanufactured aircraft, called the Nextant 400XT, received FAA certification in October 2011.