The aircraft is an evolution of the highly successful Hawker 800XPi. The new Hawker 850XP is part of a strategically planned sequence of upgrades for the Hawker fleet of airplanes that began with the Hawker 400XP in May of 2003.

The winglets are constructed of lightweight, yet strong, composite material and are installed to enhance aerodynamic performance as well as provide for a great ramp appearance. The custom designed, outwardly canted winglets were sized to provide distinct performance improvements while not impacting airframe inspection schedules. The range of the Hawker 850XP has been increased 4%, or 100 additional nautical mile range. Other performance improvements include up to 8% improvement in timetoclimb plus faster airspeeds and block speeds. The winglets incorporate state of the art LED position lights that have MTBF (mean time between failures) of 5000 hours.

The Hawker 850XP introduces new scheduled maintenance interval improvements from 300 hours to 600 hours with only a detailed walk around inspection required at 300 hours, reducing Hawker operator maintenance costs and downtime.

The Hawker 850XP will be available with the same improvements found in the Hawker 800XPi announced at the 2005 European Business Association Convention and Exhibition (EBACE). The improvements feature an upgrade to the existing Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite with IFIS standard and optional features. It also includes a new updated interior that already set the benchmark in class for quality and comfort, and the new Airshow 21 cabin management system. In addition to these enhancements, the Hawker 850XP comes standard with a classleading 5year warranty on the airframe, engines, and avionics.

"This winglet upgrade will further enhance the unparalleled success of the most capable, dependable, and reliable midsize jet in the market," said Brad Hatt, president and general manager of Hawker Business. "The Hawker 850XP, capturing the perfect balance of speed, range, and comfort, is being selectively upgraded to meet the demanding requirements of today's aircraft operators ensuring that it remains the world’s best selling midsize jet," said Hatt.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation designs, manufactures, markets and supports Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft for the world’s commercial and military markets.