Hawker 800XP

The Hawker 800XP is one of the most successful private jets that British Aerospace has ever made. It is a third-generation model of the 800 series, and is similar in part to the ubiquitous Hawker 400XP. It is designed to complete transcontinental and international flights as needed, as well as have good short range capabilities. Since it is the third member of the 800 series, it has undergone many small improvements to the features that made it successful in the private jet market to begin with — its cruise and climb speeds, runway performance, and weight limits.

The cabin of the Hawker 800XP is typically configured with eight seats: a four-person club section, a three-person divan, and one forward-facing seat. The seats are fully adjustable and can swivel 360°. Different soundproofing options are available, but cabin noise levels usually stay in the low 70-decibel range. The cabin itself measures 21.3 feet long, 5.7 feet high and 6 feet wide. There is a baggage compartment accessible in-flight which holds 48 cubic feet of luggage.

Two AlliedSignal TFE731-5BR engines power the Hawker 800XP, capable of giving off 4,660 pounds of thrust each on takeoff. The Hawker 800XP can climb to an altitude of 37,000 feet in twenty minutes, where it can reach its high cruise speed of 447 knots. For long range cruise speeds, the Hawker 800XP flies at 39,000 feet at a speed of 400 knots. If needed, it can fly up to 41,000 feet to avoid traffic or weather. The cabin is pressurized to 8.6 psi, meaning that it can maintain a sea level cabin at 22,200 feet.

One of the Hawker 800XP’s strong points is its ability to take off from runways much shorter than are typically required for private jet international flights. At sea level, 5,032 feet of runway is required; at an elevation of 5,000 feet, the requirement increases to 7,952 feet. The useful load of the Hawker 800XP is slightly higher than the loads of the Hawker 800 and 800A.  Modifications were made to the wing as well – the wing used on the Hawker 1000 was chosen over the previous Hawker 800 wings with winglets, resulting in a longer range and higher loading capacity. When carrying six passengers, crew, and their baggage, the Hawker 800XP’s maximum range is 2,900 miles (2,540 nautical miles). Possible flights would include New York to Los Angeles or Singapore to Beijing.

The avionics system is based on the Honeywell SPZ-8000 suite, which includes GPS, High Frequency communications, GPWS (Ground Proximity Warning System), TCAS II (Traffic Collision Avoidance System), and dual autopilot. Flight and systems information is displayed by five screens and some analog controls.

The Hawker 800XP does not have any one strong point to make it stand out from the competition. Instead, it strikes a balance between factors that drive private jet sales – fuel economy, climb and cruise performance, and takeoff distance.