HAWKER BEECHCRAFT
Hawker 850XP
The Hawker 850XP added winglets to the proven Hawker 800XP airframe, improving climb performance and range. Stand-up cabin, eight seats and one of the most popular midsize jets in service.
FULL HAWKER 850XP PAGE →
Hawker 850XP vs Legacy 500
A head-to-head look at two of the most-chartered aircraft in the midsize jet class.
EMBRAER
Embraer Legacy 500
The Embraer Legacy 500 was the first midsize jet with full fly-by-wire flight controls, delivering ride quality previously reserved for the largest business jets. A genuine six-foot cabin, 6,000-foot cabin altitude and 3,125 nm range make it exceptional for transatlantic and Middle-East missions.
FULL EMBRAER LEGACY 500 PAGE →SPECIFICATIONS
Side-by-side specifications
| METRIC | Hawker 850XP | Legacy 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 8 | 8–12 |
| Range | 2,642 nm | 3,125 nm |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.80 | Mach 0.82 |
| Cabin height | 5'9" | 6'0" |
| Cabin width | 6'0" | 6'10" |
| Baggage | 50 cu ft | 155 cu ft |
| Runway | 5,032 ft | 4,084 ft |
Hawker 850XP — strengths
- —Winglet performance upgrade
- —Quiet cabin (Hawker airframe acoustics)
- —Strong US and European availability
Embraer Legacy 500 — strengths
- —First midsize jet with fly-by-wire
- —6,000 ft cabin altitude — lowest in class
- —Walk-in baggage in flight
CHARTER PRICING
Indicative pricing
HAWKER 850XP
| Miami → Cabo San Lucas | from $26,400 |
| Geneva → Athens | from CHF 21,600 |
EMBRAER LEGACY 500
| London → Dubai | from £25,200 |
| Miami → New York | from $14,700 |
All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.
EXPERT VERDICT
The Legacy 500 is the stronger all-rounder, but the Hawker 850XP still wins where it counts for the right mission.
the Legacy 500 answers with range / non-stop reach, cabin comfort, group capacity, airport access and speed & block time. Both sit in the midsize 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
Legacy 500
3,125 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.
Cabin comfort
Legacy 500
Taller and/or wider cabin (6'0" × 6'10") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.
Group capacity
Legacy 500
Seats up to 12 — the right pick when the manifest grows.
Airport access
Legacy 500
Shorter 4,084 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.
Speed & block time
Legacy 500
Cruise of Mach 0.82 — 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 850XP or the Legacy 500.
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.
CHOOSE WITH CONFIDENCE
Top reasons to choose — and who each aircraft is best for
A tailored summary for the Hawker 850XP and Legacy 500: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT
Top reasons to choose the Hawker 850XP
- ★Winglet performance upgrade
- ★Quiet cabin (Hawker airframe acoustics)
- ★Strong US and European availability
BEST FOR
Stand-up cross-Europe travel
Flat-floor cabin for 3–4 hour legs with full bar and lavatory.
8-seat board offsites
Comfortable double-club layout for executive teams.
US transcontinental
Non-stop east-coast to west-coast missions with full payload.
Sport & ski groups
Cabin volume for extended-stay baggage without payload sacrifice.
EMBRAER
Top reasons to choose the Legacy 500
- ★Reaches 3,125 nm non-stop — 18% more range than the Hawker 850XP, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
- ★Cruises at Mach 0.82, trimming block time on every leg vs the Hawker 850XP (Mach 0.80).
- ★Bigger cabin envelope (6'0" tall × 6'10" wide) than the Hawker 850XP — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
- ★Seats up to 12 passengers vs 8 on the Hawker 850XP — better for full-group charters and family travel.
- ★Lands in 4,084 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the Hawker 850XP cannot.
BEST FOR
Longer non-stop reach
When the mission is on the edge of the Hawker 850XP's envelope, the 3,125 nm legs of the Legacy 500 keep reserves intact.
Larger party charters
Up to 12 seats vs 8 on the Hawker 850XP — the natural pick when the manifest grows last-minute.
Short-field departures
4,084 ft balanced field unlocks airports the Hawker 850XP cannot use, putting passengers closer to the door.
Stand-up cross-Europe travel
Flat-floor cabin for 3–4 hour legs with full bar and lavatory.
PROS & CONS
Honest assessment
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT
Hawker 850XP
PROS
- +Winglet performance upgrade
- +Quiet cabin (Hawker airframe acoustics)
- +Strong US and European availability
CONS
- −Shorter range than the Legacy 500 (2,642 nm vs 3,125 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
- −Maximum 8-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 8 — the Legacy 500 adds 4 seats.
- −Slightly slower in cruise than the Legacy 500 (Mach 0.80 vs Mach 0.82).
- −Lower ceiling than the Legacy 500 (5'9" vs 6'0") — stand-up movement is restricted.
- −Needs more runway than the Legacy 500 (5,032 ft vs 4,084 ft) — fewer short-field options.
EMBRAER
Embraer Legacy 500
PROS
- +First midsize jet with fly-by-wire
- +6,000 ft cabin altitude — lowest in class
- +Walk-in baggage in flight
- +Longer legs than the Hawker 850XP (3,125 nm vs 2,642 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
- +Carries up to 12 passengers vs 8 on the Hawker 850XP — better for larger groups.
- +Faster cruise (Mach 0.82) trims block time on every leg vs the Hawker 850XP.
CONS
- −Marginally more expensive per block hour than the Hawker 850XP on typical charter quotes — confirm with a live quote for your route.
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
Eight-person sales roadshow across three European capitals in two days
OUR PICKLegacy 500
Larger cabin seats the full group (8–12).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 02
Family of six on a 1,500 nm leisure trip with stand-up cabin needs
OUR PICKLegacy 500
Larger cabin seats the full group (8–12).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 03
Coast-to-coast US transcon with full passenger load
OUR PICKHawker 850XP
Curated example: New York → Aspen sits in the Hawker 850XP's sweet spot.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 04
Long-weekend group charter to Marrakech with extra baggage
OUR PICKLegacy 500
Larger cabin seats the full group (8–12).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS
Best pick per route
| ROUTE | DISTANCE | RECOMMENDED | WHY |
|---|---|---|---|
| London → Moscow | 1,500 nm | Legacy 500 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Geneva → Marrakech | 1,250 nm | Legacy 500 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Teterboro → Aspen | 1,580 nm | Legacy 500 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Paris → Cairo | 1,800 nm | Legacy 500 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
Distances are great-circle approximations; actual fuel planning accounts for winds, weather and reserves.
FAQ
Hawker 850XP vs Legacy 500 — frequently asked
Hawker 850XP vs Legacy 500: which has the longer range?OPEN
The Hawker 850XP has a published range of 2,642 nm; the Embraer Legacy 500 is rated at 3,125 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.
Which is faster — Hawker 850XP or Legacy 500?OPEN
Cruise speeds are Mach 0.80 for the Hawker 850XP and Mach 0.82 for the Embraer Legacy 500. On a Miami → Cabo San Lucas-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.
How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN
The Hawker 850XP seats 8; the Embraer Legacy 500 seats 8–12. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.
What does it cost to charter the Hawker 850XP vs the Embraer Legacy 500?OPEN
Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Hawker 850XP from from $26,400, Embraer Legacy 500 from from £25,200. 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 Midsize Jet category, but range, payload and runway performance differ. See the route-recommendations table on this page for our specific pick per corridor.
MORE COMPARISONS
Compare more midsize jets
HAWKER 850XP × LEGACY 500 CLUSTER
Continue researching Hawker 850XP or Legacy 500
CHARTER EITHER AIRCRAFT
WHERE THESE AIRCRAFT FLY
EDITORIAL GUIDES
Not sure which to charter?
Tell us your route and party size — we'll recommend the right aircraft and send a confirmed quote in 10 minutes.
REQUEST A QUOTE