Raytheon 390 Premier I

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.