Light Business Jets
Hawker 400XP
ICAO: BE40
Overview
The Beechcraft Starship 2000 was an advanced twin-engine turboprop designed with composite construction and a canard layout. Developed in the 1980s, it aimed to deliver jet-like comfort with turboprop efficiency. The aircraft became one of the most unconventional business aircraft of its era.
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Specifications
Units
- Engine
- 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A
- Engine type
- Turboprop
- Power
- 2 × 1,200 shp · 895 kW
- Avionics
- Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4
- Wing tips
- Blended tips
- Seats
- 8
- Crew
- —
- Cabin width
- 5 ft 7 in · 1.70 m
- Cabin height
- 5 ft 3 in · 1.60 m
- Cabin length
- 21 ft 2 in · 6.44 m
- Exterior length
- 46 ft 1 in · 14.05 m
- Tail height
- 12 ft 11 in · 3.94 m
- Fuselage diameter
- 6 ft 1 in · 1.85 m
- Wing span
- 54 ft 5 in · 16.58 m
- Baggage volume
- 53 ft³ · 1.5 m³
- Gross weight
- —
- Empty weight
- —
- Max takeoff weight
- 14,900 lb · 6,750 kg
- Max landing weight
- 13,700 lb · 6,200 kg
- Max payload
- 1,200 lb · 550 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 570 gal · 2,100 L · 1,700 kg (Jet A)
- Max cruise speed
- 335 kt · 386 mph · 620 km/h
- Maximum speed
- —
- Cruise speed
- —
- Approach speed
- 97 kt · 112 mph · 180 km/h
- Range
- 1,576 nm · 1,810 mi · 2,920 km
- Fuel burn
- 2.79 nm/gal · 1.36 km/L
- Ceiling
- 41,000 ft · 12,500 m
- Rate of climb
- 2,748 ft/min · 14 m/s
- Takeoff distance
- 3,100 ft · 950 m
- Landing distance
- 2,400 ft · 730 m
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Operational Context
Beechcraft Starship 2000 — composite canard turboprop
The Starship program began in the early 1980s under Beechcraft, with significant design input from Burt Rutan. The aircraft first flew in 1986 and entered limited service in 1989. Its distinctive forward canard and rear-mounted pusher turboprops set it apart from conventional business aircraft.
Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A turboprop engines producing approximately 1,200 shaft horsepower each, the Starship cruised at around 300 knots (555 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight was roughly 14,000 pounds (6,350 kg). The pressurized cabin accommodated six to eight passengers in executive configuration.
Despite advanced aerodynamics and composite construction, sales were limited due to high development costs and market resistance to its unconventional appearance. Production ended in the 1990s after fewer than 60 aircraft were delivered. The Starship remains a notable experiment in modern composite aircraft design.
Sources and references used for research and fact-checking.