Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: British Aerospace/Hawker Model: 800 Nickname: Hawker 800
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Business Jet
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Multi-engine Land
> Engine Description: Twin jet

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 9/2/2021
> Number of Hours Flown: 13
> Number of Times Flown: 4
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: HS-125-700, 700A

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 130
> Date First Flown: 9/16/2002
> Location First Flown: Lincoln, Nebraska Airport (KLNK)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Duncan Aviation

Recollections: This airplane design has had more companies and names than most, probably an indication of how good a plane it is that it lives thru mergers and acquisitions.  The “Hawker 800” (one name) was originally designed by the de Havilland company, later acquired by Hawker Siddeley, then British Aerospace, then Raytheon (where I came to know it) and finally Hawker Beechcraft.  Initially designated the DH.125 “Jet Dragon”, it was later changed to the HS-125…the official designation which remained throughout it’s production.

I flew it on 3 different projects during my time with the FAA in Wichita, on avionics-related modifications.

To be honest, my memories of flying the airplane match that of my more frequent flights in another “Hawker”…the Hawker 4000 Horizon.  In both cases, it was clear to me that Flying Qualities were a prime aspect of the design…every Hawker I’ve ever flown flew like a DREAM, the “800” being no exception.

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Learjet Model: 25 Nickname: Learjet
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Business Jet
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Multi-engine Land
> Engine Description: Twin jet

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 9/2/2021
> Number of Hours Flown: 17
> Number of Times Flown: 10
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: various Learjet models

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 25
> Date First Flown: 5/2/1986
> Location First Flown: NAS Patuxent River, MD (KNHK)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Calspan Corporation

Recollections: My involvement with this aircraft, though I haven’t flown it many times, is quite varied.  My first flight and about half of my flights in the “Learjet 25” were flown in a very unique Learjet…the CALSPAN variable stability (VSS) Learjet…an airplane where the left set of controls are standard but the right seat (where I flew) had a fly-by-wire system that could be linked to a stick, a yoke or a sidestick and be made to simulate any aircraft (or, for that matter, change any stability parameter to make it fly like any POTENTIAL airplane).  This unique, world-asset is used for the training of test pilots and the development of flight control laws in modern aircraft such as the SAAB Grippen and other advanced aircraft.    I flew it in it’s training role, at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.  

The other half of my relatively small number of flights were flown on projects while I was assigned to the FAA’s Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO).  But, my last flight (as of the writing of this entry) was again in the CALSPAN VSS, this time as part of a Pilot Induced Oscillation (PIO) training course with the FAA.  This important and unique asset has spanned my career as a test pilot and continues its service to this day.

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Cessna Model: 500/etc Nickname: Citation I, II, Bravo, etc
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Business Jet
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Multi-engine Land
> Engine Description: Twin jet

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 9/2/2021
> Number of Hours Flown: 25
> Number of Times Flown: 14
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: 500, 550, 551, 552, 560, T-47, Bravo, Ultra, Encore (and–a mistake made while compiling my logbook–the Citation V)

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 127
> Date First Flown: 7/22/2002
> Location First Flown: Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (KICT)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Cessna Production, Lionel Diamon

Recollections: The Citation (which encompasses a whole series of airplanes with various avionics, various lengths and various engines), not to be confused with the Citation Jet (CJ), even though it’s a jet, is–in my view–the father (or maybe grandfather) of the Cessna business jet line.  This line makes Cessna–in my view–one of the premier developers of Transport Category jet aircraft.  In some ways, it all starts with the Citation I, Cessna model 500.  Not only is it a wide variety of aircraft, many are on the same “type rating”.  On my airman’s certificate (Pilot’s license) I have a type rating which reads “CE-500”.  This type rating counts for (if I remember correctly) the Citation I (model 500), the 501 (single-piloted aircraft, requires additional training), 550 (Called a “Citation II”), 551 (aka Citation II/SP for “single pilot”…maybe the last single-piloted Part 25 jet?), 552 (US Navy T-47A, used to train Naval Flight Officers for many years), and Citation Bravo (which had different landing gear, engines and avionics).  That’s why my first training course after being hired by the FAA was a CE-500 type rating.  

During my type rating training (all in a simulator, of course and my very first type-rating training coming into the civilian aviation world), while I was confused enough by all the airplane models involved (and I guess I’m STILL confused, having double-entered this model, see also the Citation V post), I was REALLY confused by this new thing called “the FMS”, along with the avionics in a Civilian business jet. I also was new to the expected crew duties associated with civilian flying.  My “stick buddy” was an active Part 135 pilot.  My logbook shows little detail of this experience, probably because I was overwhelmed by all that was new to me (“I fly the T-38 and the F-18, and I’ve got 3000 hours of P-3, multi-crew time, what can they throw at me?”…I probably thought.  Answer: a LOT!) but I have a distinct memory of my stick buddy’s absolute disbelief at how clueless I was.  Maybe that’s why I didn’t write down his name in my logbook…shame.  Anyway, I eventually figured it out and–in the end–my type rating in the Citation launched my FAA flight test career.  

Oh, the airplane..sure…well behaved and–as I was to learn later…a Citation’s a Citation.  Lots of other models followed but, like Boeing, Cessna does a wonderful job keeping their line of airplanes similar enough that, even as you move into a more modern design, it still feels like home.

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Raytheon (Beechcraft) Model: 390 Nickname: Premier I
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Business Jet
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Multi-engine Land
> Engine Description: Twin jet

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 9/2/2021
> Number of Hours Flown: 30.2
> Number of Times Flown: 18
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: n/a

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 122
> Date First Flown: 4/24/2002
> Location First Flown: Beech Field, Wichita, KS (KBEC)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Beechcraft Flight Test

Recollections: This business jet could be called a “Hot Rod”.  It’s an amazing airplane, certified under Part 23 (small airplane), even though it’s swept-wing design flies into the high flight levels at high speeds.  It’s also single piloted!  To achieve this single-pilot designation, it was required to have a checklist system that utilized a series of yoke-mounted buttons to select and advance thru checklists.  Pretty slick for a design of this vintage.  

My first flight in the airplane was behind an Icing Tanker (King Air) operated by Beechcraft.  We were investigating an in-service issue concerning wing anti-ice.  Most of my work on this design–which had been already certified by the time I started working in Wichita–concerned either follow-on safety issues or simple production audits.  My memories of the airplane were that it was quite capable and would be high on my list to own if I had the budget!  I also learned (from my boss, the venerable Gerry Baker) about how to assess stall characteristics in a swept wing jet in part 23.  These lessons would serve me well later in my career.