Graham Warwick/WICHITA
A launch decision on the first derivative of Raytheon Aircraft's new Premier I business jet is expected "within a year", says company president Art Wegner. Speaking at the roll-out of the first Premier I in Wichita on 19 August, Wegner said that the next aircraft, known inside the company as the PD375, "-may be more than just a stretch of the Premier I".
Wenger's comments suggest that Raytheon plans to take advantage of a unique benefit touted for the Premier's "fibre-placed" composite fuselage - the ability to make the cabin wider, as well as longer. This could mean that the Premier derivative will be positioned to compete against the new Cessna Citation Excel and Bombardier Learjet 45 "super light" business jets - and to replace Raytheon's current Beechjet 400A.
Raytheon, meanwhile, says that it has firm orders for more than 120 Premier Is, with deliveries of the $4.1 million entry-level business jet scheduled to begin in the third quarter of next year. The company's TravelAir fractional-ownership subsidiary has reserved production positions on a further 20-plus aircraft, with deliveries to begin in 2001.
In a bid to recover delays in completing the first aircraft, Raytheon has added a fourth Premier I to the 12 month, 1,400h certification flight test effort.
The first flight is scheduled for "late September, early October", says programme director Duncan Koerbel, who adds: "All four aircraft will be flying by the end of the year."
The four flight test aircraft will be production standard, and the year-long certification effort will cover flight into known icing, single pilot operation "-and all options. There will be no post-certification work required," he says.
Flight testing for US and European certification will be conducted concurrently, with European approval due in early 2000. Raytheon says that 40% of Premier I orders are from international customers, and deliveries are already planned to 17 countries outside the USA. The company plans to produce 50 aircraft a year initially.
The Premier I is being certificated to the 5,670kg (12,500lb) maximum take-off weight limit of US Federal Aviation Regulation FAR 23. Stretching the aircraft will require certification of the PD375 under more stringent FAR 25 commuter rules, or applying for an exemption to exceed the FAR 23 weight limit. The first such exemption was granted recently to Sino Swearingen Aircraft for its SJ30-2 light business jet.
Source: Flight International
