The Nextant 400XT is a fantastic update to the already reliable Beechcraft Hawker 400A with new engines, avionics, and interior features—Nextant Aerospace purchases used Beechcraft 400A airframes and modernizes, converts, and re-sells them as the 400XT. As Nextant President James Miller told Financial Times, “Some people recycle beer cans. We recycle whole aircraft.” It’s quite an upgrade—according to Business Jet Insider, the 6,000 man–hour reengineering process “increases range 50 percent, cuts climb times by one-third and chops operating costs 29 percent.” The 400XT got its certification in 2011, and was followed up by the improved Nextant 400XTi.
NEXTANT 400XT FEATURES
INTERIOR
Though the Nextant 400XT is a light jet, Financial Times’ Rohit Jaggi notes that it “has the feel of a much larger aircraft,” in part due to a complete interior renovation. Its seven-passenger cabin measures 15 feet 6 inches long, 4 feet 11 inches wide, and 4 feet 9 inches high for a total cabin volume of 305 cubic feet. The cabin includes five to seven single seats with fold-out tables on either side of the aisle that are the same size featured on larger Gulfstream business jets, giving passengers plenty of room to stay productive in the air. Nextant also notes that, while competition offers an average of 15 inches of legroom, their cabin improvements offer 32 inches between the club seats.
There’s a sizeable full-service galley, and even the soundproofing has been replaced and improved. The aircraft includes external luggage capacity of 25 cubic feet, with 31 cubic feet of additional space that can be accessed during the flight in the form of an in-cabin closet. The 400XT’s optional Rockwell Collins Venue Cabin Management system includes a HD media center, seat and table lighting controls, and other options to further improve passenger comfort. Additional amenities include a belted lavatory seat at the back of the cabin and other entertainment and connectivity features.
PERFORMANCE
The Nextant 400XT boasts more speed and range than other jets in the light class, making it a favorite among business jet passengers. It Nextant is equipped with two Williams FJ44-3AP engines, which enable the aircraft to reach a high cruise speed of 460 kts and produce 3,000 pounds of thrust per engine. They are far lighter and burn less fuel than the Beechcraft 400A’s original Pratt & Whitney engines—Nextant said they burn 32% less greenhouse gas.
The 400XT can fly 2,096 nautical miles when traveling with 4 passengers and NBAA reserves—making it capable of traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago, Teterboro to Aspen, or London to Moscow. Nextant
AVIONICS
Nextant gave the 400XT a huge upgrade in the cockpit by installing the glass-panel Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics system. Information like moving maps and weather radar is displayed on sleek flat-panel LCDs, giving pilots greater awareness and convenience. The Pro Line 21 suite’s features include an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, Weather Radar, Engine Indicating Crew Alerting System, and more.
