Hawker Beechcraft Chief Bill Boisture said 2010 will be a “very difficult year” when asked when an economic recovery might start. While the precise moment is difficult to predict, he said, the years 2012 or later seem to be good estimates.
Before a recovery can take place there needs to be a reduction in used aircraft inventories. Boisture said aircraft sold as new in 2007 and 2008 came back into the used-aircraft market “rapidly.” In addition, banks need to recognize the true value of used business jets, he said.
Hawker Beechcraft officials said two of its aircraft have conquered new speed records. A Hawker 4000 traveled from New York to Ireland at 579.6 mph, while a Premier 1A went from Britain to Geneva, Switzerland, at 512.6 mph.
Boisture said the first flight of the Premier II will take place during the first quarter of 2010. He also reported that there are 562 T–6 trainer aircraft flying in five air forces around the world. The aircraft is the basis for a new light attack aircraft. The T–6B is the first of the line to have an all-digital cockpit.
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