Mark Hannant
The sale of two Raytheon aircraft to Eddie Jordan, Formula One Grand Prix racing team supremo, added to the soaring tally of Raytheon sales announced at the show. By midday yesterday Raytheon had sold 11 aircraft, was closing in on a further four and was confident those would be signed by the close of play. It says further sales are expected by the end of the week. Jordan has ordered a Raytheon Premier 1 entry-level jet and a Hawker Horizon super mid-size business jet at a cost of more than $20 million. Speaking at the show, he says they "are ideal aircraft to support our global racing operations." Raytheon also announced the sale of three Premier 1s to Aviation Leasing Group. The London-based company has also recently ordered a Beechjet 400A that, along with two of the Premiers, will be used for training Thai Airways pilots in Thailand.
Raytheon was obviously expecting strong interest in its light and business aircraft at this year's Show. Along with a mock up of the Hawker Horizon cabin, it is displaying six aircraft: Hawker 800XP, Beechjet 400A, Beech King Air 350, King Air B200 and King Air C90B and Beech 1900D.
The Beech King Air family has been hugely successful for Raytheon. The 250 is the best-selling turboprop business aircraft ever produced; the longer bodied 350 is configured with double club seating for eight people.
Source: Flight Daily News
