The Hawker 4000, crafted by the innovative minds at Raytheon, wasn’t designed to break speed records or set new distance records. Instead, it aimed to strike a harmonious balance, combining the elements most cherished by aircraft owners: a spacious cabin, speed, cost-effectiveness, and range. In this quest for equilibrium, the Hawker Horizon emerged, a private jet that excels in every facet.

Step inside the Hawker Horizon’s cabin, and you’ll find a haven that comfortably accommodates between eight to fourteen passengers. Its dimensions are impressive, spanning 29.5 feet in length, 6 feet in height, and 6.5 feet in width. To ensure you can bring along all your essentials, there’s a generous 115 cubic feet of baggage space available in an unpressurized external compartment. The cabin isn’t just roomy; it’s also equipped with all the expected amenities, including a fully enclosed lavatory, facilities for hot and cold food preparation, and convenient power plugs.

Powering the Hawker Horizon are two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308A engines, each generating a robust 6,900 pounds of thrust during takeoff. These engines share similarities with the PW305 engines used on the Hawker 1000, but they go a step further, delivering increased thrust, enhanced fuel efficiency, and improved temperature margins. Notably, they incorporate superior sealing, aerodynamics, and filtering systems to prevent bacteria growth.

The Hawker Horizon’s runway performance is a testament to its capabilities, particularly considering its size. It gracefully takes off in just 5,088 feet on a sea-level runway, or in 7,625 feet when departing from an elevation of 5,000 feet at a temperature of 77°F. When fully fueled to its maximum capacity, it boasts a remarkable range, allowing it to cover 3,570 miles (3,100 nautical miles) at a cruising speed of Mach 0.80.

Speaking of speed, the Hawker Horizon exhibits remarkable prowess. During optimum range cruise, it cruises at 430 knots at its maximum flight level of 45,000 feet. If speed is the priority, it reaches an impressive 470 knots at 41,000 feet. The aircraft’s pressurization system is equally noteworthy, rated to maintain a 6,000-foot cabin altitude while soaring at 45,000 feet, ensuring a comfortable journey for passengers.

Achieving these remarkable speeds and takeoff distances necessitated a shift away from traditional materials. Raytheon opted for composite materials in the construction of most Hawker Horizon components. A large part of the production process is automated, thanks to Cincinnati Milicron’s “Viper” system, where a seven-axis robot handles crucial assembly tasks, including the final smoothing process. The composites used are not only exceptionally strong but also remarkably lightweight and thin – the fuselage measures a mere one inch in thickness. By comparison, some aluminum fuselages can be up to eight inches thick in vital areas like the door.

Additional standout features include an advanced anti-ice system and a well-designed landing gear. Unlike the Hawker 1000, which utilized a more complex KTS weeping-wing anti-ice system, the Hawker Horizon embraces a conventional bleed-air system for its primary components. The aircraft also features a trailing-link landing gear, ensuring smooth taxiing and landings, complemented by a digital anti-skid system as standard.

For avionics, Raytheon selected the Honeywell Primus Epic Avionics Suite, an integrated system that controls numerous vital aircraft functions. This suite includes a GPS sensor, FMZ-2000 FMS (Flight Management System), dual auto-throttles, and dual automated flight control systems. The primary flight information is displayed on five 8×10-inch flat panel LCDs, with two serving as primary flight displays, two as multi-function displays, and one as an EICAS (Engine Indication and Crew Alert System), cycling through seven pages of systems information. The electronic system displays allow pilots to directly control all featured functions from the display.

In summary, Raytheon has expertly balanced cabin size, range, speed, and economic efficiency with the Hawker Horizon. This private jet offers an eight-passenger cabin with transatlantic range while still achieving impressive speeds of 470 knots. Operating costs remain competitive, and runway performance is commendable. The Hawker Horizon embodies the perfect blend of luxury and performance for discerning aircraft owners.