- 22 Dec 2022
- Tony Kioussis
- BizAv Market Insight
Certified for single pilot ops, Beechcraft's Premier IA light jet is a refined version of the original Premier I. Cabin adaptations were made to maximize the interior space advantages of the composite, carbon fiber/epoxy honeycomb fuselage. Williams FJ44-2A engines were retained, giving the aircraft its 1,340nm maximum range.
The Beechcraft Premier IA costs between $2.10m for a 2006 model and up to $2.80m for a 2012 model, according to Aircraft Bluebook’s Autumn 2022 data. Note that these figures represent averages. The value of individual aircraft will vary, depending on a combination of several factors, including engine and airframe condition, as well as whether the aircraft is enrolled with an engine maintenance program, for example.
The Beechcraft Premier IA competes in the same market segment as the Cessna Citation CJ2+, which is also a Textron Aviation aircraft. Like the Premier IA, the Citation CJ2+ can also carry seven passengers, while its range stretches to 1,600nm.
The Beechcraft Premier IA offers many of the capabilities of a larger jet, while combining the economy and efficiency usually only found in Light Jets. The aircraft has a roomy cabin design, while its composite structure lends it high levels of strength and greater resistance to corrosion.
The Beechcraft Premier IA has a wide range of features that set it apart from its predecessor, the Premier I. For example, the cabin was upgraded to maximize the interior space advantages of the composite, carbon fiber/epoxy honeycomb fuselage. Meanwhile, the aircraft retains many of the structural features of the original aircraft, and is powered by the same Williams FJ44-2A engines.
Beechcraft Premier 1A Jet Overview
By Gerrard Cowan - Editor, Aircraft Reviews
The Beechcraft Premier 1A Light Jet is an upgraded version of the Beechcraft Premier I, offering the same quick speed and large cabin, but combining it with improvements in a variety of different areas.
The Premier 1A saw some success in the market, and although production was cut short when Hawker Beechcraft stopped producing jets, 152 units were manufactured, according to JETNET. Most have remained in active service, with only eight fleet retirements, according to JETNET’s September 2022 data.
As with its predecessor, the use of a single pilot means the aircraft can carry greater payload, while a swept wing supports greater speed.
For the latest market data and full specification information for the Premier 1A jet, 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 1A offer?
The Beechcraft Premier IA, like its predecessor, features two Williams FJ44-2A engines. It can carry six or seven passengers, as well as one pilot, while the spacious cabin is a key selling point within the Light Jet segment.
The Premier IA is also manufactured using a composite fuselage technology, which is both lighter and stronger than aluminium. The Premier IA platform offers a range of around 1,340nm, and a maximum speed of around 450kts.
What came before and after the Beechcraft Premier 1A?
The Premier 1A is an enhanced version of the Premier I. There were plans to upgrade the Premier 1A with a Premier II jet that was launched in 2008.
Offering enhancements in range, speed and other key areas, the Premier II was subsequently rebranded as the Hawker 200. However, the program was scrapped when all business jet production ceased, and Hawker/Beechcraft became a part of Textron Aviation.
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