Hawker 800 Explained

The Hawker 800 is a mid-size twinjet corporate aircraft. It is a development of the British Aerospace 125, and was assembled by Hawker Beechcraft.

Development

In April 1981, the British Aerospace (BAe) board sanctioned the programme to improve the British Aerospace 125-700 series. By May 1983 the new aircraft was ready for its first test flight.

The BAe 125-800 series has a number of modifications and changes over the 700, the most noticeable being the redesigned cockpit windscreen. Accompanying this are a modified rear fuselage fairing, as well as a glass cockpit and uprated (from 3,700 to 4,300 lb thrust) Garrett TFE731-5R-1H engines. British Aerospace also improved the wing by incorporating new outer wing sections. This helped to reduce drag and improve aerodynamic efficiency.

The 125-800 series would become a sales success. From the first BAe 125 flight in August 1961 it took nineteen years until the 500th airframe was sold. In a little over five years, British Aerospace were registering the 200th sale of the 800 series.

In 1994 Raytheon (which bought Beech Aircraft Corporation in 1980) acquired BAe Corporate Jets. The new entity was known as Raytheon Aircraft. In March 2007, Raytheon divested its aircraft manufacturing business to Hawker Beechcraft Corp., a company formed and controlled by GS Capital Partners and Onex Partners of Canada.

The last version was the Hawker 850XP, which was certified for operation in March 2006. The 850XP is identical to the 800XP except that it includes winglets, which have extended its operating range by 100nmi. This version also incorporates upgraded avionics and a redesigned interior. The Hawker 850XP essentially fills the gap left behind by the Hawker 1000 when production of that aircraft ceased.In 2006, its unit cost was $13,786,100.^[1]

Two new variants were announced in October 2006 for future deliveries:^[2]

• The Hawker 750, in which the ventral fuel tank is replaced by an externally accessed baggage pannier, which reduces range slightly.
• The , using new Honeywell TFE731-50BR engines for increased range. In 2012, its unit cost was US$ 16.07 million.^[3]

After the 2013 bankruptcy of Hawker Beechcraft, the surviving company, Beechcraft, discontinued its business jet range, including the 800 series, although the designs are still supported for parts.

By 2018, a 1980s-era 700s was priced for less than $500,000, a 1995 800A at $1.02 million and a 2012 900XP at $6 million.^[4]

Design

The Hawker 800 was similar to most modern airframes in requiring sub-assemblies to be constructed away from the final point of manufacture. The fuselage sections, wings and control surfaces were manufactured and assembled in the United Kingdom in a combination of Hawker Beechcraft's own facility and those owned by Airbus UK, which inherited much of BAE Systems's civil aircraft manufacturing capacity. These sections are partially fitted out and installed with control surfacing and major systems before being shipped to Hawker Beechcraft's main manufacturing site in Wichita, Kansas for final assembly, fitting out and testing.

Military variants

Japan uses a maritime search and rescue variant of the Hawker 800. It is designated the U-125A in Japan Air Self-Defense Force service. This variant has large observation windows, a flare and marker-buoy dispenser system, life-raft and emergency equipment dropping system and enhanced salt water corrosion prevention. The aircraft also has a Toshiba 360-degree search radar, Melco thermal imaging equipment and other military communications equipment for its mission.^[5]

A military version of the Hawker 800XP is in use by South Korea for tactical aerial reconnaissance, surveillance and SIGINT (SIGnals INTelligence) tasks, and 8 specially equipped aircraft were delivered in 2000. The Republic of Korea Air Force calls them RC-800s, and they are based at Seoul Air Base.^[6]

Variants

• Hawker 750

With 48 built, this lower-cost, lighter-weight and shorter-range version of the 800XP competes with the Citation XLS and Learjet 60.In November 2017, used prices range from $2.2 million for early 2008 models to 3.8 million for late 2011 models.Its larger cabin is typically configured with eight seats in double club or a four chair club followed by a three-place divan facing a single seat, and is pressurized by to provide a cabin altitude at FL 410.Its ventral fuel tank is replaced with a external baggage compartment, leaving of fuel in the wet wings.The cockpit has four-screen Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics and FMS-6000.It takes off in at MTOW/Sea level.With a 20° quarter chord wing sweep, its maximum speed is Mach 0.80, it cruises at Mach 0.74 to 0.78 and long-range cruise is Mach 0.70 at per hour midweight.First hour fuel burn is, second hour is for subsequent hours.B-checks are every 800 h, C-checks every 1,600 h and D-checks every 3,200 h and there are yearly maintenance checks.The landing gear is overhauled every 12 years.Its Honeywell TFE731-5BR have 2,100 h and 4,200 h inspection intervals, extendable to 2,500 h / 5,000 h with optional service bulletins, and MSP per engine.^[7]

• Hawker 800
• Hawker 800XP

Able to fly nine passengers over 2,400 nmi, 475 Hawker 800XP have been sold for $10–13.5 million between 1995 and 2005. By July 2018, 467 were still in service, valued $1.4–2.4 million.^[8]

• Hawker 800XP Pro Line
• Hawker 800XPi
• Hawker 850XP
• Hawker 900XP
• U-125
• RC-800
• C-29

Operators

Civil operators

The aircraft is operated by private individuals, companies and executive charter operators, and in fractional ownership programs.

Military operators

• Japan Air Self-Defense Force^[9]

• Mozambique Air Force^[10]

Nigeria

• Nigerian Air Force

• Pakistan Navy^[9]

• Philippine Air Force^[11]

• Republic of Korea Air Force^[9]

Accidents and incidents

• 31 July 2008: A Hawker 800 registered as N818MV and operating as East Coast Jets Flight 81, crashed while attempting a go-around at Owatonna Degner Regional Airport near Owatonna, Minnesota, killing all eight passengers and crew on board.^{[12] [13]} The aircraft was manufactured in 1991, and East Coast Jets began operating it in June 2003. The NTSB determined the probable cause of the accident was the captain’s decision to attempt a go-around late in the landing roll with insufficient runway remaining. Contributing to the accident were (1) the pilots’ poor crew coordination and lack of cockpit discipline; (2) fatigue, which likely impaired both pilots’ performance; and (3) the failure of the FAA to require crew resource management training and standard operating procedures for Part 135 operators.^[14]
• 10 November 2015: A Hawker 800 operating as ExecuFlight Flight 1526 crashed into an apartment complex in Akron, Ohio shortly before 15:00 EST in rainy weather while on approach to Akron Fulton International Airport.^[15] Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion, and seeing smoke/flames as the crash occurred. All nine occupants of the aircraft, including both pilots, were killed.^[16] The National Transportation Safety Board reported the crash was caused by pilot error, operational issues within the charter company, and deficiencies in the FAA's oversight (operations inspections) of the charter operator.^{[17] [18]}
• 20 December 2020: A Hawker 800XP crashed near Farmingdale, New York. At 8:35 p.m. EST the aircraft faced substantial damage; the captain sustained minor injuries, and the first officer was seriously injured. The plane was a Part 91 business flight operated by Talon Air, LLC as a Title 14 CFR.^[19]
• 21 February 2022: A Hawker 800XP skidded off Runway 33 at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE) due to aborted takeoff due to lack of control pressure. Four passengers and two pilots were not injured. ^[20]
• 7 February 2024: A Hawker 900XP crashed in Grand County, Utah near the Utah-Colorado border after takeoff from Grand Junction Regional Airport. The two pilots were killed.^{[21] [22]} The aircraft was owned by Vici Aviation LLC and operated by Clay Lacy Aviation.^[23]

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Gunston, Bill. Hawker: The story of the 125. (Airworthy Publications International Limited, 1996,)

External links

• Hawker Official product page
• Farnborough 2012 Day 3 News Aviation Week pp52–53 tells the history of the 125/800
• Hawker 800XP Jet specifications and performance data

Notes and References

1. Web site: Purchase Planning Handbook . Business & Commercial Aviation . Aviation Week . May 2006.
2. Web site: 2006 BIZAV REVIEW. avbuyer.com. 2008-07-31. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090227015029/http://www.avbuyer.com/articles/Article.asp?Id=628. 2009-02-27.
3. News: Operations Planning Guide . Aviation Week . Business & Commercial Aviation . August 2012.
4. For many models, market hitting the apex . Aviation International News . Mark Huber . December 2018 . 20–21, 24 . 2018-12-27 . 2018-12-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181227181555/https://www.ainonline.com/sites/default/files/full-issues/ain_1218.pdf . dead .
5. Web site: U-125 Peace Krypton . . July 31, 2008.
6. Web site: South Korea Spends $200M on RC-800 Fleet Maintenance & Ground Stations. defenseindustrydaily.com. 2008-07-31.
7. News: Hawker 750: Operators Say Dispatch Reliability Is Rock Solid . Nov 21, 2017 . Fred George . Business & Commercial Aviation.
8. News: Hawker 800XP: The Definitive Midsize Business Aircraft . Jul 20, 2018 . Fred George . Business & Commercial Aviation.
9. Web site: World Air Forces 2020. Flightglobal Insight . 2020 . 10 July 2020. registration.
10. Isby. David C.. Willis. David. Mozambique Rebuilding its Air Force. Air International. December 2013. 85. 6. 26. 0306-5634.
11. https://www.facebook.com/armedforcesofthephilippines/posts/pfbid02ruAXbxaPb2Me9tgQZWc8nTWxx9Q4g9G7XT2erDK4XPM7nhKUg4Jb9Lvw8egrPBxMl Armed Forces of the Philippines
12. News: NTSB preliminary report issued in crash that killed Bethlehem-area pilots . Deegan . Jim . The Express-Times . August 7, 2008 . November 1, 2019.
13. News: 8 dead after Owatonna plane crash; missing accounted for . Ferraro . Nick . Vezner . Tad . Pioneer Press . July 30, 2008 . November 1, 2019.
14. Web site: Crash During Attempted Go-Around After Landing, East Coast Jets Flight 81, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation 125-800A, N818MV, Owatonna, Minnesota, July 31, 2008 . 87 . March 15, 2011 . . NTSB/AAR-11/01 . November 1, 2019.
15. Web site: Nine killed aboard charter plane that crashed Tuesday into Ellet apartment building in Akron . Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio.com) . November 10, 2015.
16. Web site: No survivors after plane crashes into apartment building on Mogadore Road in Akron . WEWS Cleveland (NewsNet5.com) . November 10, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151110211621/http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/akron-canton-news/plane-crashed-into-apartment-building-on-mogadore-road-in-akron . November 10, 2015.
17. Web site: Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter Accident occurred Tuesday, November 10, 2015 in Akron, OH . NTSB/CEN16MA036 . www.ntsb.gov. 2016-10-31.
18. News: NTSB: Akron plane crash caused by 'litany of failures' . Allen Cone . UPI . October 18, 2016 . November 21, 2016.
19. Web site: NTSB releases final report on December 2020 Hawker 800XP crash . 2022-11-09 . Globalair.com . 8 November 2022 . en.
20. Web site: Aspen airport reopens late Monday night after private jet goes off runway . Aspen Times . 21 February 2022 . 22 February 2024.
21. Web site: Plane crashes on Utah-Colorado border with two on board, no survivors found . Sinton . Kacie . 2 Feb 2024 . . 8 Feb 2024 .
22. Web site: Two killed in Grand County plane crash near Colorado state line . Pace . Eliza . 7 Feb 2024 . . 8 Feb 2024 .
23. Web site: Clay Lacy Aviation Raytheon Hawker 900XP (N900VA) . Netairspace.cc . 22 February 2024.