Hawker Beechcraft Introduces Premier II

Hawker Beechcraft has a program well under way to produce the Premier II update to the Premier I that will climb faster, fly farther and faster, and carry a bigger payload, according to the company. The Premier II will feature new 3,050-pound-thrust Williams International engines and performance-enhancing winglets. With four passengers and full fuel, it will fly 1,500 nautical miles, about 350 nautical miles farther than the original. The model will be priced at $7.365 million in 2010 dollars, compared with $6.25 million in 2008 dollars for the Premier I. The Wichita-based company claims firm orders for 40 aircraft, about evenly split between U.S. and European markets.