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Nextant Aerospace Progresses With Engine Certification By Daniel Guevarra |
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June 28, 2010 ? Nextant Aerospace
announced the completion of the first mating of a Williams International
FJ44-3AP engine to a Beechjet 400A aircraft. The aircraft, serial number
RK-108, is the first of two aircraft that will be used in the upcoming
flight test program which will result in FAA certification of the engine
upgrade under a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). The replacement of the Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 engines with Williams FJ44-3APs is the final phase of the 400NEXT product which breathes new life into the Beechjet 400A/XP. ?We are pleased with how well the mating of the engine went and are preparing the aircraft for ground tests in the next several weeks. |
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The mating was
done on schedule and keeps the program on track for first flight in the
next six weeks and certification in the first half of next year,? said
Jim Miller, President Nextant Aerospace. Williams International is the
world leader in small turbine engines and customer support, with
headquarters in
The Nextant
Aerospace 400NEXT was designed to overcome significant limitations to
the popular Hawker Beechjet 400A/400XP. By replacing the existing
outdated Pratt & Whitney JT15D engines with the new modern fuel
efficient Williams International FJ44-3AP computer controlled engines
and incorporating the new Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite.
The range of the 400NEXT will be increased from 1333 nautical miles to over 2000 nautical miles (4 passenger, NBAA IFR range). In addition to a 30% reduction in operating costs based on fuel savings alone, the aircraft is more environmentally friendly as CO2 emissions are reduced. Nextant Aerospace was formed for the primary purpose of developing an aircraft modernization program. In 2007, Nextant launched their first aircraft retrofit program the 400NEXT.
The 400NEXT includes three major upgrades to the Beechjet 400A/XP. These include upgrading the flight deck with a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21? avionics suite, replacing the P&W JT15D engines with Williams FJ44-3AP engines, and aerodynamic enhancements including nacelles, pylons and an improved engine mounting configuration. |
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