Beechcraft Premier I

The Beechcraft Premier I is a light business jet designed and built by the Beechcraft division of Hawker Beechcraft, and it was the company's first in-house designed business jet. Design began early in 1994 as PD-374 and the aircraft was launched at the National Business Aviation Association convention in September 1995, meant to compete with the Cessna CitationJet series. Its airframe combines aluminium and composite materials made with a computer-controlled fiber-placement process, although it ended up 1,500 pounds heavier than intended. The prototype first flew on 22 December 1998 and the FAA issued its type certificate on 23 March 2001, when it was the fastest and most spacious aircraft in the light jet market. The improved Premier IA followed in 2006, and production ended with the bankruptcy and restructuring of Hawker Beechcraft.