Premier I

Beechcraft · United States · first flew 1998 · light aircraft

The Beechcraft Premier I is a light business jet notable for its wide composite fuselage, the first jet from Beechcraft and a rival to entry-level Citations.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, swept
E — Engines	2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	Light jet with a notably wide carbon-composite fuselage for its class
T — Tail	T-tail

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Light jet with a notably wide carbon-composite fuselage for its class
Two turbofans on the rear fuselage under a T-tail
Low swept wing with a roomy stand-up-feel cabin

Look for the unusually wide composite fuselage on a light-jet airframe, the rear-mounted turbofans and the T-tail. The cabin looks broader than its compact length suggests.

Specifications

The Premier I has a length of 14.12 m (46 ft).
It has a wingspan of 13.56 m (44 ft).
Its maximum speed is 835 km/h (519 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2 pilots.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Rolled out in 1998 and first flown on 22 December 1998, the Premier I gained certification in 2001. Its carbon-fibre composite fuselage allowed a wider cabin than aluminium rivals while keeping weight down, and the improved Premier IA followed with brake and systems upgrades.

Variants

The line comprises the original Premier I and the refined Premier IA. A planned, more capable Premier II was cancelled when Hawker Beechcraft restructured.

Where you'll see it

The Premier is a familiar light jet at UK business airfields such as Biggin Hill, Farnborough and Luton, flown by owner-operators and small charter firms. Its single-pilot certification suits cost-conscious European business travel.

Related aircraft

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