Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Hawker Beechcraft’s 400XPR upgrade program has achieved two milestones: the first set of Williams International FJ44-4A-32 engines was recently mounted on the 400XPR test airplane and certification has been achieved for the <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/singapore-air-show/2012-02-13/hawker-pacific-avionics-upgrade-firsts">Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21</a> avionics suite.


First run of the new Williams engines is expected in the next few weeks. The powerplants can each deliver 3,600 pounds of thrust, although they will be flat-rated to produced 3,200 pounds, for a total of 6,400 pounds (8 percent more than the Pratt &amp; Whitney JT15D-5R engines that were originally installed on the Beechjet 400/400XP). The engines are controlled by full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) systems that reduce pilot workload and offer additional features such as trend monitoring, time-limited dispatch, diagnostics and engine synchronization. As well as featuring the new Williams engines, the 400XPR will also have Hawker Beechcraft-designed winglets.


The Pro Line 21 avionics installation is an option for the 400XPR and upgrades the avionics from the original Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 system to a four-display system with FMS 6100 flight management system. Features available in Pro Line 21 include electronic charts, XM weather/data (available in the U.S.), WAAS/LPV precision GPS-based instrument approaches, ADS-B out, VHF data link and capability for future upgrades to meet coming airspace requirements.


Hawker Beechcraft offers the XPR upgrade for existing Beechjet 400/400XP owners or the company can provide the aircraft and upgrades as a factory-completed aircraft. The company has already sold out 2012 production for the 400XPR upgrade. It expects to receive certification of the engines and winglet installation by the end of June.

Hawker Beechcraft advances 400XPR Upgrades

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