The Beechcraft Premier I is a light business jet aircraft manufactured by the Beechcraft division of Hawker Beechcraft, designed to compete with the Cessna CitationJet series. It was the first business jet designed from the wheels up by Raytheon/Hawker Beechcraft, and it has a high-strength composite carbon fiber/epoxy honeycomb fuselage. Design began in 1994, and it was launched at the National Business Aviation Association Convention in 1995. The first flight was in December 1998, with FAA certification in March 2001 and entry into service that year. Early models had poor runway performance and a noisy cabin, which is why the Premier IA was introduced in 2006 with refined brakes, avionics, and cabin. The cabin measures 5.5 ft wide, 5.4 ft tall, and 13.6 ft long, seating up to seven passengers in a club arrangement with a rear enclosed lavatory.
The flight deck has Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, and the aircraft is certified for single-pilot operations. The powerplants are two Williams International FJ44-2A turbofan engines, each with 2,300 pounds of thrust. The Premier I can cruise at 451 knots, with a maximum range of 1,500 nautical miles, and a fuel burn of about 130 gallons per hour. Pre-owned models are available from $1.5 million to $2.6 million, and charter rates start at around $3,250 per hour. Due to its composite construction and swept wings, it has low operating costs and remains a popular choice in the light jet market.
Jim GoodrichPilot, Airplane Broker and Founder of Tsunami Air
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What is the Beechcraft Premier I (Model 390)?
The Beechcraft Premier I, Beechcraft 390 (Premier I/IA), is a light business jet aircraft manufactured by the Beechcraft division of Hawker Beechcraft from 2001 to 2012. The aircraft was an independently designed private jet that was to compete with the Cessna CitationJet series. The Beechcraft 390’s (Premier I/IA) first flight occurred on December 22, 1998. The Premier I and IA can be certified as light aircraft for operation by a single pilot. The aircraft is certified for single-pilot operation, and many upgraded airframes include ADS-B compliance and WAAS/LPV capability for flexible routing and access to more airports. The cockpit features the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite. The light jet is flown as a single-pilot operation with six or seven passengers and is aimed at corporations. One passenger can be seated in the cockpit with a single pilot if the aircraft is owned, but not with a charter.
Jim GoodrichPilot, Airplane Broker and Founder of Tsunami Air
What are the specifications of the Beechcraft Premier I?
The specifications of the Beechcraft Premier I are given in the table below.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 46 ft |
| Wingspan | 44 ft |
| Height | 15 ft |
| MTOW | 12,500 lb |
| Powerplant | 2 turbofans |
| Thrust | 2,300 lbf |
| Takeoff | 3,792 ft |
| Climb | 17 mins |
| Cruise | 451 ktas |
| Range | 1,500 nm |
| Fuselage | Composite |
| Pressure | 8.4 psi |
| V1 | 90 kt |
| V2 | 120 kt |
| VLO | 180 kt |
| VFE | Manual |
| OneEngineClimb | 950 fpm |
| OneEngineAlt | 28,000 ft |
| WingArea | 247 ft |
| FuelBurn | 1,000 lb/h |
| Approach | 120 kias |
| Vmo | 265 kt |
| MaxAlt | 41,000 ft |
| Reversers | No |
| CabinAlt | 8,000 ft |
| FuelCap | 2,070 L |
The Beechcraft Premier I is powered by two Williams FJ44-2A turbofan engines, each providing 2,300 pounds (10,231 newtons) of thrust on takeoff. The Premier I can take off at 1,156 meters (3,792 feet) and climb to 11,278 meters (37,000 feet) in seventeen minutes when loaded to its maximum takeoff capacity. Its cruise speed can reach 451 knots (519 mph), and its maximum range is 1,726 miles (2,777 kilometers). The highest operating height is 41,000 feet (12,497 meters). The Premier I has a fuel burn of 700 pounds per hour (317.5 kilograms per hour) at economy cruise, and gas usage is about 216 gallons per hour (817.6 liters per hour). The fuel capacity is about 2,070 liters (547 gallons).
The cabin is one of the biggest for a private jet of its size, seating six or seven passengers in a 315 cubic-foot cabin. There is 77 cubic feet of baggage space available in internal and external baggage compartments, and the external baggage compartments can be heated. The fuselage is made of a high-strength carbon fiber/epoxy honeycomb composite. Cabin pressure is rated to a maximum of 8.4 psi (57.9 kPa).
The Premier I has Vmo 265 knots (305 mph) below about 3 miles (4.8 km) up, and 250 knots (288 mph) at higher altitude. Approach has 120 knots indicated airspeed, and VREF is 1.3 multiplied by stalling speed, with normal VREF plus 5 knots. It does not have push reversers. With one engine, climb speed is around 289.6 meters per minute (950 feet per minute) and highest safe altitude is 8,534.4 meters (28,000 feet). The wing size is 22.9 square meters (246.5 square feet). Vspeeds change based on weight, temperature, altitude, and the condition of the landing strip.
Jim GoodrichPilot, Airplane Broker and Founder of Tsunami Air
What is the performance of the Beechcraft Premier I?
The performance of the Beechcraft Premier I is given in the table below.
| Aspect | Value |
|---|---|
| Max speed | 454 kts |
| Normal cruise | 426 kts |
| Ceiling | FL410 |
| Takeoff run | 1,156 m (3792.65 ft) |
| Max takeoff weight | 5,670 kg (12,500 lbs) |
| Max payload | 414 lb (188 kg) |
| Range | 1,158 mi (1863.6 km) |
| Seats | 4 |
| MMO | 0.80 |
| Stall speed | 108 kts |
| OEI climb | 600-800 fpm |
The Beechcraft Premier I has a maximum speed of 523 mph (841 km/h, 454 knots), a maximum cruise speed of 426 knots, and an efficient cruising speed around Mach 0.80. Stall speed is 108 knots indicated, and MMO is 0.80. The certified ceiling is 41,000 feet (12,497 meters). It flies at FL370 to FL390 and climbs in stages to FL410 because fuel consumption cuts weight. Immediate climb to FL410 is not possible.
Runway length needed for takeoff is about three quarters of a mile. The ground run before lifting off is 1,156 m (0.72 miles). Takeoff and landing distance is about 0.88 miles (1,416 m). Maximum takeoff weight is 12,500 lb (5,670 kg). The Premier I’s range is about 1,158 miles (1,864 kilometers) with NBAA IFR reserves, including a 200 sea mile (370 kilometers) alternate. Maximum load with a full tank is 414 lb (187.8 kg), but the amount of weight it can carry fully fueled is from 320 lb (145.1 kg) to 370 lb (167.8 kg). The plane weight without passengers or cargo with tank full is 570 lb (258.55 kg).
The Premier I is a light plane rule type of plane. It is not subject to Part 25 OEI climb demand. It does not have a standard climb gradient figure. OEI climb performance is in the plane's official guide book and changes with temperature. The book states that the single engine climb rate is six hundred up to eight hundred feet per minute, at ground level.
Jim GoodrichPilot, Airplane Broker and Founder of Tsunami Air
What is the interior like in the Beechcraft Premier I?
The Beechcraft Premier I offers one of the most spacious interiors in the light jet market, with a cabin measuring 1.68 m wide (5.5 ft), 1.65 m tall (5.4 ft), and 4.15 m long (13.6 ft). The interior is usually configured with four seats in a club formation separated by fold-away tables, plus two forward-facing seats at the rear. Seating length is 11.2 ft (3.41 m) and there is an enclosed aft lavatory measuring 2.3 ft (0.70 m) long. A small galley for cold refreshments is at the front. The innovative spun carbon fiber fuselage creates an wide cabin but makes it noisy inside, with sound levels in the range of 78 to 85 dBA, similar to airliners. The design was modern and flashy at the turn of the century, but reports say it was garish and did not utilize interior space well, leading to a loss of height and width. Protruding ceiling pipes and sticks-out vents cut clearance, reducing headroom.
Jim GoodrichPilot, Airplane Broker and Founder of Tsunami Air
The cockpit has optional sliding doors and brass medium aged antique metal plating. Interior cabin insulation is basic, with rubber strips and material to keep warm. Specific factory original interior color schemes, leathers, and fabrics are not available in guides or records. Enclosed window shades and remote control entry lighting are interior features. Cockpit noise is high, and better padding in later models helped lower noise inside the pilot's area.
What is the price of a Beechcraft Premier I?
The price of a Beechcraft Premier I is between $1.50m ( 1.17m) for a 2001 edition up to $1.70m ( 1.33m) for a 2005 model. A Beechcraft Premier I costs as little as $1.5 million (USD). Pre-owned Premier 1A aircraft currently range from roughly $1.687 million for a 2004 Premier 1 to $1.8 million for a 2008 Premier 1A, with some listings up to $2.5 million. Prices for individual pre-owned models will vary, depending on the aircraft's maintenance condition, proximity to the next major inspection or overhaul, or whether it is enrolled on an engine maintenance program.
Jim GoodrichPilot, Airplane Broker and Founder of Tsunami Air
The operational cost for the Premier 1/1A comes out to around $1,250-$1,450 per hour, or approximately $7.15 per mile. Variable cost per flight hour is ~$2,000-$3,000. Annual fixed costs (full-time operation) is ~$400,000-$500,000. The Premier 1/1A’s cost of ownership carries an annual budget of $692k, with fixed costs accounting for $473k and operating/variable costs around $219k. It will cost buyers around $700k per year which includes fuel, crew members, and maintenance.
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Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
