Hawker 4000: Plastic Horse

Photo: Hawker Beechcraft

Alternative: Challenger 300; On Ground: Vauxhall Insignia

The production facilities building Hawker aircraft have seen more owners than the aircraft themselves have seen changes in design. After almost 50 years of modernisation the family finally got a brand new plane.
Comfort
Well, it’s fine with eight seats in two clubs by four. Just don’t put that silly three-seat divan at the back – it will barely hold three kids, no chance for adults there.

Technology
There’s about as much revolution here as in Che Guevara printed on t-shirts sold to tourists at twenty bucks apiece. The new Hawker does boast abundant use of composites, however, which makes it lighter than metallic counterparts. And it’s quite advanced for a midsize jet, featuring FADEC, the Honeywell Primus Epic avionics suite and PW3008A engines.

Photo: Hawker Beechcraft

Cool
The Hawkers have long become the workhorses in business aviation. But this one is good enough to go to a parade.

Flight
It flies farther and faster than its competitors, thanks to composites. And if one day it gets winglets it might end up challenging aircraft a class higher up.

Quality
Some told me the plane needs some touching up, without elaborating on the topic.

Photo: Hawker Beechcraft

Practicality
In terms of returns from each dollar the 4000 is in line with the rest of the Hawkers. It’s the workhorse of the fleet, but younger, bigger, and more luxurious.

Costs
Practically all business jets of the super-midsize class are very similar in this respect. The difference in operating costs comes down to a mere hundred dollars per hour, small enough to be passed as a statistical error. The acquisition price is also very reasonable for such a plane.

Verdict
A lot of plane for good money, but with a lack of WOW-effect.

Overall: 8 of 13

Specifications

Price $21 564 000
Variable costs $2683.81
MTOW 39 500 lbs (17 010 kg)
Seats 8-10
Cabin Size (LxHxW) 25'x6'x6'6'' (7.62х1.83х1.97 m)
Cabin / Baggage Volume 762 / 115 cu. ft. (21.58 / 3.24 cu. m.)
Range 3 260 nm (6 188 km)
Cruise Speed 470 ktas (870 km/h)
Rate of Climb 38.33 f/s (11.68 m/s)
Certified Ceiling 45 000 ft (13 716 m)
Useful Load 16 000 lbs (7 257 kg)