LIMITLESS SKY
Hawker Beechcraft Hawker 400XP — Light Jet charter aircraftEclipse Aerospace Eclipse 550 — Light Jet charter aircraft

Hawker 400XP vs Eclipse 550

A Hawker Beechcraft vs Eclipse Aerospace showdown in the light jet class. The Hawker 400XP carries 7 passengers with 1,500 nm of range; the Eclipse 550 carries 4 with 1,125 nm. Cabin dimensions land at 4'9" × 4'11" versus 4'2" × 4'8", and runway numbers read 3,950 ft against 2,342 ft. Indicative charter pricing on a representative sector: from $7,400 on the Hawker 400XP, from $4,400 on the Eclipse 550.

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Hawker 400XP

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT

Hawker 400XP

The Hawker Beechcraft 400XP is a fast, twin-engine light business jet with an unusually square, flat-floor cabin — a direct descendant of the Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond that Beech later re-engineered into the Beechjet 400A and, after further refinement, the Hawker 400XP. Introduced in the early 2000s, it kept the airframe's signature strengths — high-speed cruise up to about 450 knots, seven-seat double-club layout, external baggage hold — while adding modernised avionics and interior. Today it remains one of the most-flown light jets on the US Part 135 fleet and a competitively priced option for regional business trips, hop-and-go family missions and time-sensitive charters.

FULL HAWKER 400XP PAGE →
Eclipse 550

ECLIPSE AEROSPACE

Eclipse 550

The Eclipse 550 is the definitive very light jet — a four-seat, twin-Pratt & Whitney PW610F powered aircraft with autothrottles, Avio IFMS avionics and by far the lowest fuel burn of any jet in charter service (roughly 59 US gal/hr). A niche but genuinely useful tool for short regional missions on tight budgets.

FULL ECLIPSE 550 PAGE →

SPECIFICATIONS

Side-by-side specifications

METRICHawker 400XPEclipse 550
Passengers74
Range1,500 nm1,125 nm
Cruise speedMach 0.78Mach 0.64
Cabin height4'9"4'2"
Cabin width4'11"4'8"
Baggage53 cu ft16 cu ft
Runway3,950 ft2,342 ft

Hawker 400XP — strengths

  • —One of the fastest light jets in service — Mach 0.78 / ~450 kt high-speed cruise
  • —Widest square cabin in the light-jet class (double-club with real shoulder room)
  • —Strong US Part 135 availability — one of the most-flown light jets in charter
  • —Competitive empty-leg pricing versus newer light jets of similar range
  • —External baggage hold accepts golf and moderate ski loads (subject to payload)

Eclipse 550 — strengths

  • —Lowest fuel burn of any charter jet
  • —Sub-2,400 ft take-off distance
  • —Autothrottles standard

CHARTER PRICING

Indicative pricing

HAWKER 400XP
Los Angeles → Las Vegasfrom $7,400
Paris → Nicefrom €8,900
Dallas → Chicagofrom $12,900
ECLIPSE 550
Chicago → Detroitfrom $4,400
Dallas → Austinfrom $3,900

All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.

EXPERT VERDICT

The Hawker 400XP is the stronger all-rounder, but the Eclipse 550 still wins on the metrics that matter to specific buyers.

The Hawker 400XP pulls ahead on range / non-stop reach, cabin comfort, group capacity and speed & block time; the Eclipse 550 answers with airport access. Both sit in the light jet class, so charter pricing is broadly aligned — let the use case (range, group size, airport pair) drive the final call.

Range / non-stop reach

Hawker 400XP

1,500 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.

Cabin comfort

Hawker 400XP

Taller and/or wider cabin (4'9" × 4'11") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.

Group capacity

Hawker 400XP

Seats up to 7 — the right pick when the manifest grows.

Airport access

Eclipse 550

Shorter 2,342 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.

Speed & block time

Hawker 400XP

Cruise of Mach 0.78 — shaves meaningful minutes off every long leg.

Verdict based on published manufacturer specifications, charter market data and Limitless Sky brokerage experience.

REQUEST A CHARTER QUOTE

Charter the Hawker 400XP or the Eclipse 550.

Tell us your route — our desk returns a confirmed quote on both aircraft within 10 minutes, so you can compare like-for-like on your exact mission.

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CHOOSE WITH CONFIDENCE

Top reasons to choose — and who each aircraft is best for

A tailored summary for the Hawker 400XP and Eclipse 550: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT

Top reasons to choose the Hawker 400XP

  • ★Reaches 1,500 nm non-stop — 33% more range than the Eclipse 550, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
  • ★Cruises at Mach 0.78, trimming block time on every leg vs the Eclipse 550 (Mach 0.64).
  • ★Bigger cabin envelope (4'9" tall × 4'11" wide) than the Eclipse 550 — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
  • ★Seats up to 7 passengers vs 4 on the Eclipse 550 — better for full-group charters and family travel.
  • ★53 cu ft of baggage volume — fits ski, golf and extended-stay luggage that crowds the Eclipse 550.

BEST FOR

  • Longer non-stop reach

    When the mission is on the edge of the Eclipse 550's envelope, the 1,500 nm legs of the Hawker 400XP keep reserves intact.

  • Larger party charters

    Up to 7 seats vs 4 on the Eclipse 550 — the natural pick when the manifest grows last-minute.

  • Two-hour business hops

    Lowest jet-class operating cost for 1–2 hour European or US regional legs.

  • Short-runway escapes

    Unlocks airfields like London City alternatives, Lugano and Aspen.

FULL HAWKER 400XP SPECS →LONDON → GENEVA →NEW YORK → MIAMI →

ECLIPSE AEROSPACE

Top reasons to choose the Eclipse 550

  • ★Lands in 2,342 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the Hawker 400XP cannot.
  • ★Lowest fuel burn of any charter jet
  • ★Sub-2,400 ft take-off distance
  • ★Autothrottles standard

BEST FOR

  • Short-field departures

    2,342 ft balanced field unlocks airports the Hawker 400XP cannot use, putting passengers closer to the door.

  • Two-hour business hops

    Lowest jet-class operating cost for 1–2 hour European or US regional legs.

  • Short-runway escapes

    Unlocks airfields like London City alternatives, Lugano and Aspen.

  • 4–6 passenger weekends

    Right-sized for a couple plus friends or a small family weekend break.

FULL ECLIPSE 550 SPECS →MIAMI → NASSAU →
BROWSE THE FULL FLEET →REVERSE: ECLIPSE 550 VS HAWKER 400XP →ALL AIRCRAFT COMPARISONS →CHARTER GUIDES →MARKET INSIGHTS →QUOTE IN 10 MINUTES →

PROS & CONS

Honest assessment

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT

Hawker 400XP

PROS

  • +One of the fastest light jets in service — Mach 0.78 / ~450 kt high-speed cruise
  • +Widest square cabin in the light-jet class (double-club with real shoulder room)
  • +Strong US Part 135 availability — one of the most-flown light jets in charter
  • +Longer legs than the Eclipse 550 (1,500 nm vs 1,125 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
  • +Carries up to 7 passengers vs 4 on the Eclipse 550 — better for larger groups.
  • +Faster cruise (Mach 0.78) trims block time on every leg vs the Eclipse 550.

CONS

  • −Needs more runway than the Eclipse 550 (3,950 ft vs 2,342 ft) — fewer short-field options.

ECLIPSE AEROSPACE

Eclipse 550

PROS

  • +Lowest fuel burn of any charter jet
  • +Sub-2,400 ft take-off distance
  • +Autothrottles standard
  • +Shorter runway requirement (2,342 ft) unlocks airfields the Hawker 400XP cannot use.

CONS

  • −Shorter range than the Hawker 400XP (1,125 nm vs 1,500 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
  • −Maximum 4-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 4 — the Hawker 400XP adds 3 seats.
  • −Slightly slower in cruise than the Hawker 400XP (Mach 0.64 vs Mach 0.78).
  • −Lower ceiling than the Hawker 400XP (4'2" vs 4'9") — stand-up movement is restricted.
  • −Tighter baggage capacity than the Hawker 400XP (16 cu ft vs 53 cu ft).

REAL-WORLD MISSIONS

Which aircraft for which mission

Four scenarios our charter desk sees regularly — and which of these two we would actually quote.

SCENARIO 01

Two-hour business hop with four executives and overnight bags

OUR PICKHawker 400XP

Curated example: Teterboro → Boston sits in the Hawker 400XP's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 02

Weekend ski trip — Geneva to Sion with full ski equipment

OUR PICKEclipse 550

Shorter runway requirement (2,342 ft) opens up the airfield.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 03

Day-return board meeting between secondary cities

OUR PICKHawker 400XP

Curated example: Teterboro → Boston sits in the Hawker 400XP's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 04

Family of five to a Mediterranean island for a long weekend

OUR PICKHawker 400XP

Larger cabin seats the full group (7).

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS

Best pick per route

ROUTEDISTANCERECOMMENDEDWHY
London → Paris190 nmHawker 400XPBoth reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Geneva → Ibiza560 nmHawker 400XPBoth reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Teterboro → Miami950 nmHawker 400XPBoth reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
London → Athens1,500 nmEitherBoth would require a tech stop on this routing — talk to us about positioning.

Distances are great-circle approximations; actual fuel planning accounts for winds, weather and reserves.

FAQ

Hawker 400XP vs Eclipse 550 — frequently asked

Hawker 400XP vs Eclipse 550: which has the longer range?OPEN

The Hawker 400XP has a published range of 1,500 nm; the Eclipse 550 is rated at 1,125 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.

Which is faster — Hawker 400XP or Eclipse 550?OPEN

Cruise speeds are Mach 0.78 for the Hawker 400XP and Mach 0.64 for the Eclipse 550. On a Los Angeles → Las Vegas-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.

How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN

The Hawker 400XP seats 7; the Eclipse 550 seats 4. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.

What does it cost to charter the Hawker 400XP vs the Eclipse 550?OPEN

Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Hawker 400XP from from $7,400, Eclipse 550 from from $4,400. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes — pricing varies with empty-leg availability, season and routing.

Which aircraft is better for transatlantic or long-range missions?OPEN

Both belong to the Light Jet category, but range, payload and runway performance differ. See the route-recommendations table on this page for our specific pick per corridor.

How much cabin space does the Hawker 400XP have vs the Eclipse 550?OPEN

Cabin comfort is the everyday difference passengers feel most. Both the Hawker 400XP and Eclipse 550 sit in the Light Jet class, so cabin height, width and layout differ subtly — on flights over 3 hours those details matter more than raw range. Ask us for a side-by-side floorplan.

Which aircraft is safer — Hawker 400XP or Eclipse 550?OPEN

Both aircraft in this comparison are operated under ARG/US, Wyvern or IS-BAO safety programmes when chartered through Limitless Sky. Safety is driven by operator, crew currency and maintenance regime — not the airframe. We only book operators meeting our verified due-diligence checklist.

What's the total mission cost — not just the hourly rate?OPEN

Hourly pricing (from $7,400 for the Hawker 400XP, from $4,400 for the Eclipse 550) is only one input. Total mission cost includes positioning legs, overnight fees, landing/handling, catering, de-icing and FET where applicable. Our confirmed quote itemises every line so there are no surprises.

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HAWKER 400XP × ECLIPSE 550 CLUSTER

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