Nextant Aerospace#Nextant G90XT

File:Nextant 400XT Exterior.jpg

The company's first product is the Nextant 400XT, a modified and modernized Beechjet 400A/XP that sells for approximately one-half the price of competing models with comparable features and specifications.JustLuxe, “Nextant 400XT | World’s First Fully Remanufactured Business Jet FAA-Certified,” October 6, 2011, accessed January 30, 2012 [http://www.justluxe.com/lifestyle/aircraft/feature-1653357.php].

The 400XT is equipped with 3,050-pound-thrust Williams FJ44-3AP Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADEC) turbofan enginesFlying Magazine, “Beyond Beechjet,” by Robert Goyer, published: September 12, 2011, accessed January 30, 2012 [http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/jets/beyond-beechjet]. and a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21™ integrated avionics suite. It also has multiple aerodynamic and airframe enhancements including a streamlined, conically lofted engine cowling along with a newly designed engine beam and mounting system that is significantly stronger when compared to the original installation.AOPA Pilot Magazine, “The NeXT Beechjet: New power, panel, and pylon remains for the ‘old’ Beechjet,” by Thomas A. Horne, October 2011, accessed February 7, 2012 [http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/2011/october/turbine_neXT_beechjet.html].

The aircraft offers options such as several alternative seating configurations, a Rockwell Collins Venue cabin management system, entertainment equipment, LED lightingBusiness Jet Traveler, Nextant 400XT, June 2011, accessed January 30, 2012 [http://www.bjtonline.com/business-jet-news/nextant-400xt] and Internet and satellite phone access.AIN Online, “Action Aviation Becomes Nextant 400XT Sales Agent,” November 14, 2011, accessed January 30, 2012 [http://www.ainonline.com/?q=aviation-news/dubai-air-show/2011-11-13/action-aviation-becomes-nextant-400xt-sales-agent].

The aircraft has a 460 knot (850 kilometers per hour) cruising speed and a National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) IFR range of 2,005 nautical miles (3,713 kilometers) with four passengers.Flight Global, “Nextant ready to deliver 400XT twinjets to Flight Options,” October 8, 2011, accessed January 30, 2012 [http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/nextant-ready-to-deliver-400xt-twinjets-to-flight-options-363056/]. Compared to the Beechcraft 400A, the upgrade increases range by 50 percent, improves fuel efficiency by 32 percent,AOPA Pilot Magazine, “The NeXT Beechjet: New power, panel, and pylon remains for the ‘old’ Beechjet,” by Thomas A. Horne, October 2011, accessed January 30, 2012 [http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/2011/october/turbine_neXT_beechjet.html]. reduces climb times by one-third and reduces operating costs by 29 percent.Business Jet Traveler, Nextant 400XT, June 2011, accessed January 30, 2012 [http://www.bjtonline.com/business-jet-news/nextant-400xt]. Noise compliance exceeds Stage IV requirements.Nextant news release, “Nextant Aerospace Launches iPhone App for the Nextant 400XT,” issued December 8, 2011, accessed January 30, 2012 [https://archive.today/20130202075337/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/08/idUS160065+08-Dec-2011+BW20111208].

The 400XT made its first test flight in March 2010. Receipt of final certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was announced in October 2011.Crain’s Cleveland Business, “Nextant Aerospace receives FAA certification for its Nextant 400XT aircraft” October 5, 2011, accessed January 30, 2012 [http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20111005/FREE/111009943]. Deliveries of the Nextant 400XT began that same month, with initial deliveries of a 40-aircraft, $150 million order to private aviation company Flight Options LLC.

An upgraded version of the aircraft, the Nextant 400XTi, was introduced in 2014. It now competes with an official modification called Hawker 400XPR, produced by Textron in collaboration with Sierra Industries.

At the October 2018 NBAA convention, Nextant introduced a baseline, $4.5 million 400XTe version to be delivered from 2019 for charter and utility operators, with a three-screen rather than a four-screen layout flight deck and without the VIP interior of the $5.4 million XTi, but an optional high-density seating for up to nine passengers.{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/nbaa-nextant-introduces-baseline-400xte-452714/ |title= NBAA: Nextant introduces baseline 400XTe |date= 17 Oct 2018 |author= Kate Sarsfield |work= Flightglobal}}

In 2017, Textron Aviation delivered first Hawker 400XPR, a factory-engineered and supported upgrade to 400XP which competes with Nextant 400XT.{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/business-aviation/textron-aviation-delivers-first-hawker-400xpr-upgrade/124867.article|title=Textron Aviation delivers first Hawker 400XPR upgrade|author=Kate Sarsfield|date=Jul 21, 2017|publisher=FlightGlobal}}

File:Nextant 400XT cockpit.jpg

Nextant's aircraft remanufacturing program is distinguished from ones focused on the refurbishment or replacement of engines or other components by a factory-based, standardized process designed for serialized production.

The 6,000 man-hour remanufacturing process takes all life-limited components to zero-time status, either through replacement or overhaul, resulting in a plane that is 88 percent new. The airframe itself, which is not life-limited, is the only significant remaining part.,AVWeb, “Nextant 400XT: “New” At Half The Cost Of New,” by Russ Niles, October 11, 2011, accessed January 30, 2012 [http://www.avweb.com/news/nbaa/NBAA2011_Nextant400XT_205552-1.html]. Consequently, the 400XT is considered to be a new type in the Aircraft Bluebook.

As a result of the remanufacturing process, Nextant offers buyers of the 400XT a two-year whole aircraft warranty, pilot training with a uniform training curriculum and Level D full-flight simulator and a service network that includes nine centers in the U.S. and a tenth facility in Milan Linate, Italy.Crain’s Cleveland Business, “Nextant Aerospace to open first European service center” October 5, 2011, accessed January 30, 2012 [http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111010/FREE/111019985].

File:Nextant 400XT cabin interior facing aft.jpg

The 400XT can cruise at Mach 0.75-0.78 at FL430-450, pilots are comfortable flying it nearly five hours and typical missions are three hours.

It burns {{cvt|1,200|lb}} of fuel the first hour, dropping to {{cvt|850|-|900|lb}} for the second at high speed, {{cvt|750|-|875|lb}}/hr at

Mach 0.73.

Basic operating weights range from {{cvt|11,000|to|11,100|lb}}, full tanks payload is less than {{cvt|500|-|600|lb}} but the average passengers are three, it can fly six passengers more than {{cvt|1,500|nmi|km}}.{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/operators-survey-beechjet-400ahawker-400xpnextant-400xt |title= Operators Survey: Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP/Nextant 400XT |date= Dec 10, 2014 |author= Fred George |work= Business & Commercial Aviation}}

In October 2013, Travel Management Co. announced it would convert all its 50 jets, boosting the order book to more than 100.

By the end of 2014, Nextant had completed 50 aircraft and nearly 30 of 40 on order had been returned to Flight Options.

Customers are achieving 95.8% dispatch reliability.

The first reconditioned aircraft sold for $4.2 million and 2013 400XTi aircraft sold for just under $5 million, commanding in 2014 between $3.2 million and $4.2 million second hand (80 to 84% resale value).

In 2014 its closest competitors used were the Embraer Phenom 300 with similar range but a longer cabin and a more maintenance friendly design, commanding $7 to $8.5 million second hand; the smaller cabin cross-sections Cessna CitationJet: 10-year-old CJ3s are just over $4 million but are slower, CJ4 aircraft go for $6.7 million for 2010 models to more than $9 million for 2014 models; or the Learjet 40XR but its weight, runway performance and fuel consumption are worse.

The $2.8 million Nextant G90XT is a remanufactured Beech King Air with its PT6A-135s replaced by single lever Czech GE H75s, a Garmin G1000 cockpit and a new cabin.

Improved metals and 3D aero compressor enable a direct climb over FL250 and {{cvt|275|to|280|knots|km/h}} cruise, up to {{cvt|17|knots|km/h}} faster than a C90GT, while having 10% better fuel burn, 10% longer overhaul interval, and lower maintenance costs.

It has a {{cvt|1,000|nmi|km}} range at full fuel with a single pilot and three passengers, {{cvt|100|nmi|km}} less for each additional passenger: below single-engine turboprops, like the Socata TBM and the Pilatus PC-12, but with a FL220 single engine altitude.

The pre-production model max cruise is {{cvt|263|knots|km/h}} while burning {{cvt|616|lb}}/hr at FL240, ISA+2 °C and {{cvt|9,000|lb}}, lowering to {{cvt|317|lb}}/hr at a {{cvt|199|knots|km/h}} long-range cruise.{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/nextant-g90xt-pilot-report-ge-czech-nextant-transform-king-air |title= Nextant G90XT Pilot Report: GE Czech, Nextant Transform King Air |date= Jan 26, 2018 |author= Fred George |work= Business & Commercial Aviation}}

File:Nextant 604XT Cockpit .jpg

The Bombardier Challenger 604–based 604XT was launched in 2017 with a Rockwell Collins ProLine Fusion flightdeck up from a ProLine 4.

In October 2018, 100 flight test hours were logged, for certification and introduction planned for the fourth quarter.

The second phase introduces a redesigned cabin and a wing extension boosting its range by up to 500nmi, for an 18- to 24-month certification timeframe.{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-business-jets-programmes-in-the-works-452095/ |title= Business jets programmes in the works |date= 9 Oct 2018 |author= Kate Sarsfield |work= Flightglobal}}

By November, Nextant had secured the US STC for the avionics upgrade, before an early December first delivery.

Of the over 300 Challenger 604s, 25 installations were pre-sold.

The redesigned cabin and aerodynamic enhancements to increase range by 500nmi (925 km) to over 4,500nmi will follow.{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/nextant-secures-us-approval-for-604xt-fusion-upgrade-453845/ |title= Nextant secures US approval for 604XT Fusion upgrade |date= 22 Nov 2018 |author= Kate Sarsfield |work= Flightglobal }}

As of October 29, 2019, Constant Aviation has delivered 23 Production 604XT's with the Nextant Next Gen Flight Deck. Constant Aviation expects to have completed 30 deliveries by the end of 2019 with significant backlog into 2020. Challenger 604 operators are seeing the advantage of improved low visibility operations and advanced features in the 604XT Flight Deck, such as integrated SXM Weather and the advanced Multiscan Weather Radar.

Nextant was founded in 2007 by aviation entrepreneur Kenneth C. “Kenn” Ricci, who serves as the company's chief executive officer. Ricci also is a principal of Directional Aviation Capital, a private investment firm which is solely focused on aviation investments.Kenneth Ricci biography, Resilience Capital Partners, accessed December 20, 2011 {{cite web |url=http://www.resiliencecapital.com/team/Kenn-Ricci/index.php |title=Kenn Ricci - Meet Our Team - Resilience Capital Partners |accessdate=2012-02-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130201100752/http://www.resiliencecapital.com/team/Kenn-Ricci/index.php |archivedate=2013-02-01 }}. Ricci also serves as chairman of Flexjet, LLC, the second-largest private aviation company in the U.S.AIN Online, “Flight Options Flying Higher,” February 16, 2012, accessed February 28, 2012 [http://www.ainonline.com/node/102650].

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• [http://www.nextantaerospace.com/ Nextant Aerospace Web site]
• [http://www.flightoptions.com/ Flight Options Web site]
• [http://www.directionalaviation.com/ Directional Aviation Capital Web site]

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Category:Aerospace companies of the United States