The most popular models of the Hawker 800 series, delivery of which began in 1984, are the 800A and the 800XP. The 800A was the first of the 800 series. Still a popular aircraft to this day, the 800A has a normal cruise speed of about 424 knots and a range of about 2,415 nautical miles. Its AlliedSignal TFE731-5R-1H engines, while less powerful than the 800XP’s, also burn less fuel, making it slightly cheaper to fly. Next in line was the 800SP, which is simply an 800A with Hawker winglets.
Hawker moved on to the 800XP model in 1995. The XP’s cabin remained identical to the 800A’s, although the XP model was equipped with an external baggage compartment with room for 45 cubic feet of luggage. Hawker replaced the engines with slightly more powerful AlliedSignal TFE731-5BR engines, increasing its normal cruise speed to almost 430 knots while improving its range by about 200 nautical miles to 2,600. The 800XP’s runway performance was also improved significantly. It requires only 2,280 feet to land and 5,030 to takeoff at sea level, compared to 2,800 and 5,600 for the 800A.
In 2002, Hawker began equipping its 800 series (serial number 567 and up) with Rockwell Collins’ ProLine 21 avionics system, as opposed to the Dual Collins Proline system found on previous models.
The 850XP, first delivered in 2006, is very similar to the 800XP. The 850XP, however, comes equipped with Hawker winglets that extend its range by about 100 nautical miles to 2,700. It also comes equipped with the upgraded ProLine 21 avionics system and a redesigned interior featuring a new cabin management system.
At the same time they began production of the 850XP, Hawker announced the 800XPi. The 800XPi is identical to the 850XP, equipped with the 850XP’s redesigned interior and upgraded avionics, but doesn’t come with Hawker winglets. 800XPis are often listed incorrectly as 850XPs.
In 2008, Hawker Beechcraft began delivering both the Hawker 750 and 900XP. The 900XP is similar to the 850XP, but comes with Honeywell’s improved TFE731-50R engines, which increase its range from 2,700 to 2,900 while also slightly improving upon its cruise speed and takeoff and climb performance. Both the 750 and 900XP models also come equipped with the next-gen Airshow 21 cabin management system.
The Hawker 750 is similar to the 900XP, but comes at a lower price point. The 750 has Honeywell’s less powerful Honeywell TFE731-5BR engines found on previous models, but comes equipped with an external baggage compartment that holds 500 pounds of luggage, which none of its 800-series siblings have. The addition of the baggage compartment, however, required the removal of a fuel tank, reducing its range from 2,900 nautical miles to 2,200, which is the shortest of the 800 series aircraft.
In 2011, Hawker Beechcraft announced STC approval of the Hawker 800XPR, an upgrade package for the 800XP, available exclusively from Hawker Beechcraft, that adds Honeywell’s TFE731-50R engines (found on the 900XP) and Hawker winglets that increase its range by about 100 nautical miles. Optional avionics and interior upgrades, as well as a custom paint scheme were also available as part of the 800XPR upgrade package.
For military purposes, Hawker Beechcraft designed the U-125A, a search and rescue variant of the 800. It comes equipped with larger windows and custom equipment for flares, rafts and other emergency equipment. The U-125A is also more resistant to salt water corrosion. Hawker Beechcraft also created the RC-800, a military variant of the 800XP used for surveillance purposes, for the South Korean Air Force. The C-29, another military variant of the 800, was used for a short time by the United States Air Force for combat flight inspection and navigational purposes.
Do you have any experience with the Hawker 800 series? Let us know in the comments.
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