In late September, Elliott Aviation took in its second 400E, the a la carte refurbishment program for Beechjet 400As/Hawker 400XPs. Owners can choose from menu selections including: Garmin G5000 avionics with a Luma Technologies LED master warning panel; Gogo Wi-Fi with Gogo Vision (on-demand movies); a new exterior paint design; and a completely redesigned, weight-saving interior.
The 400E features the first-ever field installation of a Garmin G5000 in a Beechjet 400A or Hawker 400XP. Prices and downtimes for the program range from $400,000 and 15 days for the G5000 retrofit to $700,000 and 50 days if the customer adds new paint, interior and GoGo Wi-Fi and Vision systems, according to Elliott. The first installation was completed on an aircraft purchased on spec by the company’s aircraft sales division Elliott Jets and was sold in September. In addition to the complete 400E package, this second aircraft is also receiving a two-tone paint scheme finished in pearl paints and a full landing gear overhaul.
The redesigned 400E interior includes a new shell kit with a recessed headliner that yields more headroom. Elliott also redesigned the forward baggage cabinet to create more useable space for storage and amenities while adding a prep/serving area. Newly fabricated cabinetry also saves weight. The interior features USB charging ports, redesigned cabinetry and variable-color LED upwash and downwash cabin lighting that can be controlled through a mobile app. Customers can also select à la carte options for RGB lighting, toe-kick accent lighting, electronically dimmable window shades and floor plan changes. The lower cabin sidewall features a redesigned arm ledge with LED accent lighting in the drink holders, window reveals and electric window shades. Paint is to customer specifications. In addition to Garmin and GoGo, the retrofit project is supported by vendors including Air Source One, AWR, Belt Makers, Booth Veneers, Dallas Airmotive, High-Tech Finishing, JBRND, Luma Technologies, Scott Group Studio, Tapis and Townsend Leather.
“Listening to Beechjet 400A and Hawker 400XP operators, Elliott Aviation’s vision of the 400E was to take modern technologies in avionics, interior, cabin entertainment and paint design to provide additional capabilities into a proven airframe while maintaining the cost effectiveness of this aircraft,” said Greg Sahr, president of Elliott Aviation. “With a sound airframe that has no life limit, available overhaul or replacement of the Pratt & Whitney JT15D engines, and now a fully updated cockpit and interior, we have a great program to extend the useful life and useful load capacity of the 400 model aircraft. All of these upgrades can be done at a very affordable upgrade cost, which blows away a comparable-performing new aircraft.”
When paired with the Garmin G5000 retrofit, the new interior increases the useful load of the aircraft 350 pounds or more, according to Elliott. In addition to the 400E interior package, Elliott was the first dealer to retrofit a Garmin G5000 and currently is working on three more G5000 installations. The company currently has 15 Garmin G5000 installations sold. The three 12-inch LCD screens of the Garmin G5000 touchscreen-controlled avionics layout include Garmin autopilot, engine indication, and options for synthetic vision, electronic charts, XM weather, WAAS/LPV and ADS-B compliance that meets all 2020 mandates.
Meghan Welch, the company's paint and interiors sales manager, said, “After we did the research, we are able to give operators what they asked for.”
