Hawker Beechcraft Hawker 400XP — Light Jet charter aircraftCirrus Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 — Light Jet charter aircraft

Hawker 400XP vs Vision Jet SF50

A Hawker Beechcraft vs Cirrus showdown in the light jet class. The Hawker 400XP carries 7 passengers with 1,500 nm of range; the Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 carries 5 with 1,275 nm. Cabin dimensions land at 4'9" × 4'11" versus 4'1" × 5'1", and runway numbers read 3,950 ft against 2,036 ft. Indicative charter pricing on a representative sector: from $7,400 on the Hawker 400XP, from £2,800 on the Jet SF50.

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 →
Cirrus Vision Jet SF50

CIRRUS

Cirrus Vision Jet SF50

The Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 is the world's only single-engine personal jet, with a unique CAPS whole-airframe parachute system. Five passengers, panoramic windows and a pressurised cabin make it ideal for short owner-pilot or charter missions.

FULL CIRRUS VISION JET SF50 PAGE →

SPECIFICATIONS

Side-by-side specifications

METRICHawker 400XPVision Jet SF50
Passengers75
Range1,500 nm1,275 nm
Cruise speedMach 0.78Mach 0.53
Cabin height4'9"4'1"
Cabin width4'11"5'1"
Baggage53 cu ft30 cu ft
Runway3,950 ft2,036 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)

Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 — strengths

  • CAPS whole-airframe parachute system
  • Single-engine economy
  • Short-runway access

CHARTER PRICING

Indicative pricing

HAWKER 400XP
Los Angeles → Las Vegasfrom $7,400
Paris → Nicefrom €8,900
Dallas → Chicagofrom $12,900
CIRRUS VISION JET SF50
London → Manchesterfrom £2,800
Phoenix → Las Vegasfrom $3,500

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

EXPERT VERDICT

The Hawker 400XP is the stronger all-rounder, but the Vision Jet SF50 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 Vision Jet SF50 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

Vision Jet SF50

Shorter 2,036 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.

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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 Vision Jet SF50: 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 — 18% more range than the Vision Jet SF50, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
  • Cruises at Mach 0.78, trimming block time on every leg vs the Vision Jet SF50 (Mach 0.53).
  • Bigger cabin envelope (4'9" tall × 4'11" wide) than the Vision Jet SF50 — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
  • Seats up to 7 passengers vs 5 on the Vision Jet SF50 — better for full-group charters and family travel.
  • 53 cu ft of baggage volume — fits ski, golf and extended-stay luggage that crowds the Vision Jet SF50.

BEST FOR

  • Longer non-stop reach

    When the mission is on the edge of the Vision Jet SF50's envelope, the 1,500 nm legs of the Hawker 400XP keep reserves intact.

  • Larger party charters

    Up to 7 seats vs 5 on the Vision Jet SF50 — 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.

CIRRUS

Top reasons to choose the Vision Jet SF50

  • Lands in 2,036 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the Hawker 400XP cannot.
  • CAPS whole-airframe parachute system
  • Single-engine economy
  • Short-runway access

BEST FOR

  • Short-field departures

    2,036 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.

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 Vision Jet SF50 (1,500 nm vs 1,275 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
  • +Carries up to 7 passengers vs 5 on the Vision Jet SF50 — better for larger groups.
  • +Faster cruise (Mach 0.78) trims block time on every leg vs the Vision Jet SF50.

CONS

  • Needs more runway than the Vision Jet SF50 (3,950 ft vs 2,036 ft) — fewer short-field options.

CIRRUS

Cirrus Vision Jet SF50

PROS

  • +CAPS whole-airframe parachute system
  • +Single-engine economy
  • +Short-runway access
  • +Shorter runway requirement (2,036 ft) unlocks airfields the Hawker 400XP cannot use.

CONS

  • Shorter range than the Hawker 400XP (1,275 nm vs 1,500 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
  • Maximum 5-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 5 — the Hawker 400XP adds 2 seats.
  • Slightly slower in cruise than the Hawker 400XP (Mach 0.53 vs Mach 0.78).
  • Lower ceiling than the Hawker 400XP (4'1" vs 4'9") — stand-up movement is restricted.
  • Tighter baggage capacity than the Hawker 400XP (30 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 PICKVision Jet SF50

Shorter runway requirement (2,036 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 Vision Jet SF50 — frequently asked

Hawker 400XP vs Vision Jet SF50: which has the longer range?OPEN

The Hawker 400XP has a published range of 1,500 nm; the Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 is rated at 1,275 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.

Which is faster — Hawker 400XP or Vision Jet SF50?OPEN

Cruise speeds are Mach 0.78 for the Hawker 400XP and Mach 0.53 for the Cirrus Vision Jet SF50. 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 Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 seats 5. 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 Cirrus Vision Jet SF50?OPEN

Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Hawker 400XP from from $7,400, Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 from from £2,800. 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 Vision Jet SF50?OPEN

Cabin comfort is the everyday difference passengers feel most. Both the Hawker 400XP and Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 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 Vision Jet SF50?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 £2,800 for the Vision Jet SF50) 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.

MORE COMPARISONS

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HAWKER 400XP × VISION JET SF50 CLUSTER

Continue researching Hawker 400XP or Vision Jet SF50

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