- 22 Dec 2022
- Tony Kioussis
- BizAv Market Insight
The Beechcraft Premier I Light Jet may no longer be in production, but the aircraft still commands attention on the pre-owned market, with operators particularly attracted to its quick speed and impressively roomy cabin.
The Beechcraft Premier I costs between $1.70m for a 2001 edition up to $1.90m for a 2005 model, according to Aircraft Bluebook data in Autumn 2022 . Prices for individual pre-owned models will vary, depending on the aircraft’s maintenance condition, proximity to the next major inspection or overhaul, or whether it is enrolled on an engine maintenance program, for example. Further factors also influence a final sale price, which is ultimately decided between a buyer and seller of a specific Beechcraft Premier I jet.
The Beechcraft Premier I is focused on the same, single-pilot aircraft market where the Cessna CitationJet family – also under the Textron Aviation umbrella – has been such a strong force. Of all the aircraft in this family, the Cessna Citation CJ2 jet has a maximum range of about 1,500nm, and can accommodate six passengers, closely aligning it with the performance of the Premier I.
The Beechcraft Premier I has a notably large cabin for its class, while its swept wing design also boosts its speed (the aircraft can achieve up to 451 knots per hour).
While the Premier IA retained the Williams FJ44-2A engines of its predecessor, compared to the Premier I it features a wide range of adaptations, with the cabin upgraded to maximize the interior space advantages of the composite, carbon fiber/epoxy honeycomb fuselage.
Beechcraft Premier I Jet Overview
By Gerrard Cowan - Editor, Aircraft Reviews
The aircraft was designed in the 1990s, when the Beechcraft brand sat under the Raytheon portfolio, and it was delivered in the early years of the 21st century (between 2001 and 2005), before being upgraded and replaced with the Beechcraft Premier IA.
Although its production run was relatively short, Beechcraft still produced 115 aircraft, according to JETNET data, and, as of September 2022, the active fleet stood at 117.
Certified for single pilot operations, the Beechcraft Premier I light jet was built to compete with the CitationJet-series. Developed with composite, carbon fiber/epoxy honeycomb fuselage, the cabin typically is configured for six. Williams FJ44-2A engines, meanwhile, give the aircraft a 1,340nm maximum range.
For the latest market data and full specification information for the Premier 1, view the live data feeds on this page from aviation's leading data providers - Aircraft Blue Book, JETNET, Conklin & de Decker and Asset Insight.
What features does the Beechcraft Premier I offer?
The Beechcraft Premier I comes equipped with two Williams FJ44-2A engines. It can seat six or seven passengers (with one pilot), while it also features the largest cabin its class.
The aircraft was manufactured using a composite fuselage technology to make it both lighter and stronger than aluminium. The Beechcraft Premier I has a range of about 1,340nm.
What came before and after the Beechcraft Premier I?
The Beechcraft Premier I was the first aircraft in the Premier product line, and was followed by the Premier IA, which proved a market hit with improved avionics, cabin enhancements, and other performance and comfort-related features – all while retaining many of the original features of the earlier platform.
At one stage, a Premier II was planned, but the concept never reached the market having been scrapped even before flight testing began.
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