There’s been no shortage of companies seeking to take good business jets and make them a whole lot better by upgrading their performance, providing a fresh coat of paint, adding modern interiors and selling them for millions less than a new jet.
It’s not a bad idea — if you can target just the right airplane to give the extreme makeover treatment. Two projects based around upgraded Williams FJ44 power are turning out to be clear winners. The first is Sierra Industries’ Cessna Citation upgrade, which has been a home run for the Uvalde, Texas, company. The other is Nextant Aerospace’s reimagined Beechjet 400, a newer program that is the brainchild of Flight Options founder Kenn Ricci.
Sierra’s FJ44-2A re-engining programs for Cessna Citation 500 and 501SP models include the Stallion and the Eagle II (which adds the Eagle wing/fuel tank upgrade to the engine retrofit), replacing the original turbofans with more efficient Williams International FJ44 engines.
The latest Citation to receive Sierra’s re-engining modification, delivered to its owner, Dr. Howard Tobin, was the 50th to receive the FJ44-2A engine retrofit.
“At 41,000 feet, it sure is nice to be looking at 190 knots indicated, compared to the old 153 knots,” said Tobin of his freshly upgraded Citation. “The climb was probably the biggest boost. Up to 41,000 feet with full fuel, four people and quite a bit of baggage in about 30 minutes, still climbing at 500 feet per minute. I remember how I used to struggle above 35,000 feet.”
Meanwhile, Nextant’s first product is the 400XT, a modified and modernized Beechjet 400A/XP equipped with 3,050-pound-thrust Williams FJ44-3AP turbofan engines and a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 integrated avionics suite. The 400XT also benefits from aerodynamic and airframe enhancements, including a newly designed engine beam and mounting system that is claimed to be significantly stronger when compared to the original installation.
In addition to the wide availability of used Beechjet 400As at good prices, the airplane has no life limits, which makes the $4 million price tag for the 400XT easily justifiable. Nextant offers options for several seating configurations, the Rockwell Collins Venue cabin management system, entertainment equipment, LED lighting, and Internet and satellite-phone access.
The remanufacturing process results in an aircraft with a 460-knot cruise speed and NBAA IFR range of 2,005 nautical miles with four passengers. Compared to the original Beechcraft 400A, the upgrade increases range by 50 percent, improves fuel efficiency by 32 percent, reduces climb times by a third and reduces operating costs by 29 percent. Noise compliance, meanwhile, exceeds Stage IV requirements.
Read more in Stephen Pope’s feature, “Used Jets: Real Airplanes or Spare-Part Repositories?“
