After a 10-year development effort, Raytheon Aircraft last week received the type certificate for its super-midsize Hawker 4000 business jet from the US Federal Aviation Administration, five years later than originally planned.
First delivery of the eight-passenger composite aircraft - formerly known as the Horizon - is expected in the first quarter of next year, according to the company, one of 24 or more deliveries planned during the first year of production. Raytheon currently has orders for 74 aircraft, and is targeting a steady state production rate of 30 aircraft a year in 2008 and beyond.
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Certification has been granted for the 4000 after 10 years' development |
Meanwhile, Cessna has become the first airframer to complete the marathon process of building, certificating and producing a very light jet, following US production certification and delivery of the first Citation Mustang to the Mustang Management Group. The Fresno, California-based company will lease the aircraft back to Cessna as a demonstrator for 10 months.
After the lease period, the group plans to use the six-seat, $2.4 million aircraft for flight training. Cessna says the first delivery to a customer who plans to put the aircraft into "regular service" will be in "the coming months".
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Cessna has finally achieved delivery of the first Citation Mustang |
Source: Flight International
