Beechjet 400A
The Beechjet 400A is a twin-engine light jet seating seven passengers at 460 knots with a range of 1,500 nautical miles and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. At 460 knots, it is 31 knots above the light-category average of 429 knots, placing it among the fastest aircraft classified as a light jet. The 15.5-foot cabin is 4.8 feet wide and 4.8 feet tall, with a belted lavatory. Range at 1,500nm is below the light-category average of 1,762nm.
With 127 aircraft on US Part 135 certificates across 35 operators, the fleet is moderately concentrated. Wheels Up Private Jets manages 22 aircraft and Clemens Aviation 20, together accounting for roughly a third of the active US charter fleet. Exec 1 Aviation (7), MTJ Aviation (6), Aircraft Management Group (6), and Regency Air (6) round out the mid-tier operators. Active empty legs tend to cluster on Texas corridor routes (San Antonio, Dallas, Houston).
Charter rates run approximately $3,250 per hour. Used 400A aircraft trade between roughly $700,000 and $1.65 million depending on year and avionics; the average pre-owned price is approximately $1.03 million. That acquisition range makes it one of the most affordable twin turbofan jets at 460-knot cruise speed.
Specs at a glance
Interior & cabin
| Passengers | 7 |
| Cabin length | 15.5 ft |
| Cabin width | 4.8 ft |
| Cabin height | 4.8 ft |
| Baggage volume | 53 cu ft |
| Lavatory | Belted, curtained |
| Galley | No |
| Wi-Fi | Rare |
| Cabin floor | Drop aisle |
At 4.8 ft of cabin height, the Beechjet 400A is a sit-down jet. Expect to duck moving between seats. The lavatory is belted with a curtain — not a full door.
Operator floor plans vary. Some Beechjet 400A cabins are configured with a divan that drops the headcount by one or two seats; confirm the layout with the operator before booking.
Range & performance
| Range | 1,500 nm |
| Max cruise | 460 ktas |
| Typical cruise | ~391 ktas |
| Service ceiling | 45,000 ft |
With 1,500 nm of range, the Beechjet 400A is built for short-to-mid US missions. Plan a fuel stop for anything past three hours of cruise.
Distances are real great-circle nautical miles from the selected hub. Angular positions are spaced for readability, not actual bearings. Range envelope assumes no wind and a full passenger load.
Charter cost per hour
Charter the Beechjet 400A at roughly $3,000–$5,000 per flight hour, depending on how far ahead you book. Light jets like this carry 6–8 passengers; the per-seat math improves sharply as you fill the cabin.
Rates are flight-hour pricing. Total cost depends on round-trip vs. one-way, positioning, fuel surcharges, and taxes (~15% on top of base). Run the math on your trip →
History
The Beechjet 400A traces its lineage to the Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond, which flew for the first time in August 1978. Mitsubishi built 97 MU-300s before selling the type certificate and remaining airframes to Beechcraft in 1985. Beechcraft certified the rebranded Beechjet 400 in May 1986 and began deliveries in June. The 400A variant first flew on September 22, 1989 and received FAA certification on June 20, 1990, adding improved ceiling, greater cabin volume, a rear lavatory, and better soundproofing over the earlier 400.
The US Air Force selected the 400A as the T-1A Jayhawk for undergraduate pilot and navigator training, acquiring 180 aircraft. Beechcraft later sold the civil version rights to Raytheon, which marketed it as the Hawker 400XP with avionics upgrades. Production under various designations ran into the 2000s.
Ideal For
- Five to seven passengers on medium domestic routes up to 1,200nm: Dallas to Chicago (800nm), Miami to Washington DC (900nm), New York to Nashville (880nm)
- Corporate day trips where the 460-knot cruise reduces block time versus slower light jets on the same route
- Managed fleet and owner-operator programs where light-jet operating costs are required but near-midsize speed is valued
- Routes where 45,000-foot cruise altitude enables high-altitude routing to avoid weather and busy lower-altitude airspace
- Cost-conscious charter buyers; at around $3,250 per hour and with acquisition from under $1 million, the 400A undercuts most comparable turbofan options
- Passengers comfortable with a belted lavatory on shorter trips of under two hours
Beechjet 400A vs Light Average
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charter a Beechjet 400A?
Charter rates run approximately $3,250 per hour. A 1.5-hour flight from Dallas to Chicago typically totals $5,500 to $7,000 all-in before positioning fees.
Is the Beechjet 400A the same aircraft as the Mitsubishi MU-300?
By lineage, yes. Mitsubishi built 97 MU-300 Diamonds before selling the design to Beechcraft in 1985. Beechcraft redesignated it as the Beechjet 400 and introduced the improved 400A in 1990. The US Air Force T-1A Jayhawk is the same basic airframe, used for undergraduate pilot training. Later versions sold under the Hawker 400XP name after Raytheon acquired the program.
How does the Beechjet 400A compare to the Learjet 31A or Citation II?
At 460 knots, the Beechjet 400A matches the Learjet 31A in speed exactly and is 57 knots faster than the Citation II (403 ktas). The Learjet 31A has shorter range (1,290nm vs 1,500nm). The Citation II offers comparable range (1,563nm) at lower speed with seven seats. For passengers who prioritize speed at light-jet pricing, the 400A competes well.
Does the Beechjet 400A have an enclosed lavatory?
No. The 400A has a belted lavatory (a curtained toilet area rather than a fully private compartment). Passengers who want an enclosed private lavatory on a light jet should look at the Phenom 300 or Citation CJ4.
Is a used Beechjet 400A a reasonable value?
For buyers focused on speed and acquisition cost, yes. Pre-owned 400As average around $1.03 million, with later-year examples around $1.3 to $1.65 million. That puts it among the most affordable twin turbofan jets capable of 460 knots. The trade-off is a design from the 1980s with shorter range than newer light jets and no enclosed lavatory.
Available Empty Legs on Beechjet 400As
Beechjet 400As for Charter (127) Page 3 of 3
Where Beechjet 400As actually fly
ADS-B-tracked flights from the trailing 90 days. Numbers cover aircraft on our charter database; private corporate fleets and operators using PIA registration are not in this count. Methodology →
Top routes
Busiest origins
| Wichita (KAAO) | 245 |
| Nashville (KBNA) | 198 |
| Pittsburgh (KPIT) | 188 |
| San Antonio (KSAT) | 169 |
| Santa Ana (KSNA) | 157 |
| Teterboro (KTEB) | 156 |
| Naples (KAPF) | 118 |
| Miami (KOPF) | 113 |
| Minneapolis (KFCM) | 105 |
| Charleston (KCHS) | 101 |
Most active operators
| Operator | Aircraft | Flights |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels Up Private Jets LLC | 13 | 2,026 |
| AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT GROUP INC | 6 | 822 |
| Clemens Aviation, LLC | 20 | 799 |
| Regency Air, LLC | 6 | 752 |
| Exec 1 Aviation, Inc. | 7 | 748 |
| ENCORE JET MANAGEMENT LLC | 3 | 483 |
| Coleman Jet, LLC | 3 | 333 |
| Aviation Charter Inc | 3 | 300 |
| Secure Air Charter LLC | 5 | 296 |
| EXECUTIVE AIR SERVICES, LLC | 3 | 292 |
Comparable aircraft
Same category, similar mission profile. The framing below summarizes how each one differs from the Beechjet 400A on the dimensions that matter most.