Gallery Update: Chasing a Hawker 4000 in Salem

I noticed on FlightAware that a Hawker 4000 operated by Talon Air (a large operator of the type) was coming into Salem today. Originally marketed as the Hawker Horizon, the Hawker 4000 is a super-midsize business jet that can be outfitted to carry between eight to 14 passengers, depending on configuration. It is built primarily out of carbon composite materials, which makes the aircraft lighter than a standard aluminum structure, allowing for a maximum range of 3,445 nautical miles, and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. The Hawker 4000 is the first business jet of its class to be based on composite construction. The type is a rather uncommon sight however, as only 73 airframes have been built so far, meaning that the type doesn't seem to have sold really well. Since 2013, Hawker-Beechcraft has been offering its jet division, including the Hawker 4000 project, for sale as the company intends to focus solely on propeller-driven aircraft; the future of the Hawker 4000 is up to an eventual buyer.

I first encountered a Hawker 4000 back in Utah during my early stages of flight training, not realizing how rare this business jet really was. Since then, I've been kicking myself for not photographing it!

As for the operator, Talon Air is a full-service private jet charter company that specializes in aircraft charter, maintenance, and management. Their fleet consists of Gulfstreams, Bombardier Challengers, and Hawker jets. Talon Air seems to specialize in the Hawker 4000 as they happen to manage the largest fleet of this particular aircraft type.

Salem (SLE) 23

Preview:

Talon Air Hawker-Beechcraft 4000 (N713AK) arriving on 31 as TFF900 from Minneapolis/St. Paul.

TFF900 taxiing to the FBO ramp.

Face-to-face with the Hawker 4000. From this angle, the plane looks like it was drawn by a child, especially with those rather large windscreens.

Composite materials make the Hawker 4000 have an unusual category (super-midsize) for a biz jet.

TFF900 parked on the FBO ramp. Scheduled to depart Salem later in the day with the same flight number for Cleveland. Glad I could finally photograph one of these more uncommon business jets!