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: 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: Cessna Model: 560XL Nickname: Excel
> 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: 95
> Number of Times Flown: 31
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: C560XLS, 560XL

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 131
> Date First Flown: 10/11/2002
> Location First Flown: Wichita Mid-continent Airport (KICT)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Cessna Flight Test, Don Alexander

Recollections: The first thing I had to figure out about the “Excel” was that, despite it’s designation being “560XL”, it’s a very different airplane than the “560”.  The 560 is actually on the same type rating as the 500 and the 550.  The 560XL (and it’s improved “XLS” version) is a different airplane.  Being new to civilian business jets, this confused me for awhile! It was a total pleasure to get to fly my first flight with Don Alexander, who had many careers in flight test, including USAF, FAA, McDonnell Douglas, and Cessna. Most guys with that amount of experience would probably not give me the time of day…but Don was giving, kind and fun to fly with. What a gentleman! For more information on Don, go to his obituary.

I enjoyed the 560XL, both in flight test and–the best deal ever–doing recurrent type rating training in the actual aircraft, with the FAA at “Hangar 6”, the FAA’s VIP transport squadron.  The airplane is powerful and, really, a “rocket ship”.  Systems-wise it’s very similar to other Cessnas, making it easy to operate.