Hawker Beechcraft is in the odd position of having two Hawker jets in its lineup that are many generations apart. The Hawker 4000 is a high-tech, super midsize jet with a carbon-fiber fuselage and the latest in system sophistication. The Hawker 900XP is the newest version of one of the very first business-jet designs. This Hawker has been in continuous production since 1962, longer than any other civilian jet. The only other airplane that comes close to such a long continuous-production run is the Boeing 737 that entered service in 1968.
Like the 737, the Hawker line has been stretched and had its wing modified, and is now powered by very advanced, efficient turbofan engines. The 900XP is little changed, except for the engines, from the previous 850XP, which grew winglets for better climb and improved range. New Honeywell TFE731-50R engines are so much better that all aspects of performance — takeoff, climb, cruise speed, range — are improved, with no addition of fuel capacity. And operating costs are reduced too.
