Aircraft Overview: Nextant 400XT/XTi

 

The Nextant 400XT and 400XTi are remanufactured versions of the Beechjet 400A type, an airframe that was marketed as the Beechjet 400A and 400XP. Those modifications are performed by U.S.-based Nextant Aerospace, which holds the supplemental type certificate (STC) for the changes, an STC that was received in September 2011. Described as being a “remanufactured light jet,” the changes made by the company to airframes marketed as the 400XT and 400XTi include upgrading the avionics and engines with improved hardware from Collins Aerospace and Williams International, respectively, as well as installing winglets on certain airplanes.

 

According to the FAA type certificate data sheet for the Beechjet 400A, the maximum capacity is 11, including the two required pilots and nine passengers. Although the airframe is certified to accommodate that number of passengers, two of the three cabin configurations promoted by Nextant for the 400XTi have seating for eight passengers, while a third reduces that number to six. 

 

In addition to replacing the airplane’s Pratt & Whitney engines, another change made to the 400XT and 400XTi is the installation of Collins Aerospace’s Pro Line 21 integrated avionics system. Standard to the 400XTi’s Pro Line 21 installation are four “large-format” liquid crystal displays, two of which are utilized as primary flight displays (PFD) and two of which serve as multifunction displays (MFD).

 

Additional features of the 400XTi’s Pro Line 21 standard configuration include dual AHS-3000S attitude heading reference systems (AHRS) and CDU-6200s, as well as Collin’s GPS-4000S. Also standard is automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) Out capability, a Class A terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS-A) and an integrated flight information system (IFIS) that has “electronic charts with enhanced maps.” 

"If you are in the market for a quiet, commodious cabin, rock-solid reliability and 400-plus-kt. block speeds, but you can afford to give up some runway performance, it is tough to beat the value of Nextant 400XT/XTi."

 

- BCA Senior Editor

 

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Mission and Performance

Operating limitations of the Beechjet 400A type include a maximum operating limit speed (MMO) of 0.78 Mach above 26,000 ft. and a maximum operating altitude of 45,000 ft. Beyond that maximum Mach figure, Nextant states that the 400XTi has high-speed and long-range cruise speeds of 447 kt. and 406 kt., respectively. At sea-level altitude, the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) and in standard conditions, that version of the airframe has a takeoff length of 3,821 ft. Comparatively, a 2,898-ft. landing distance is possible when carrying four passengers and instrument flight rules (IFR) reserves—including a 100-nm alternate—in standard conditions and at sea-level altitude.

 
"Nextant 400XT operators generally give their aircraft high marks for climb performance, Pro Line 21 avionics, fuel efficiency and reduced operating cost. Nextant’s new challenge is beefing up product support and simulator training capabilities to meet demand."

 

- Taken for the Operators Survey by Fred George

On Air Charter Guide, July 2021, there are 11 Nextant 400 XTi for charter including one 7-seater from Elite Air and one 8-seater from Moser Aviation.

 

See the up-to-date list of aircraft and base locations on Air Charter Guide.

Variants

Remanufactured Beechjet 400As marketed as the 400XT and 400XTi replace Pratt & Whitney’s JT15D-5 engines with Williams International FJ44-3AP engines that incorporate a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system that eliminates the need for a thrust reverser. Those engines are controlled by an autothrottle that reduces both fuel burn and pilot workload, are the primary contributor to the 400XTi’s range, weigh less and increase fuel efficiency by “up to 32%” in comparison to preceding engines and produce 3,052 lb. of thrust.