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 Praetor 500
A Hawker Beechcraft vs Embraer showdown in the midsize jet class. The Hawker 850XP carries 8 passengers with 2,642 nm of range; the Embraer Praetor 500 carries 7–9 with 3,340 nm. Cabin dimensions land at 5'9" × 6'0" versus 6'0" × 6'10", and runway numbers read 5,032 ft against 4,222 ft. Indicative charter pricing on a representative sector: from $26,400 on the Hawker 850XP, from CHF 28,400 on the Praetor 500.
Manufacturer hubs:Embraer charter →
EMBRAER
Embraer Praetor 500
The Embraer Praetor 500 builds on the Legacy 450 with winglets and additional fuel — 3,340 nm range, fly-by-wire controls and the only flat-floor stand-up cabin in the midsize segment.
FULL EMBRAER PRAETOR 500 PAGE →SPECIFICATIONS
Side-by-side specifications
| METRIC | Hawker 850XP | Praetor 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 8 | 7–9 |
| Range | 2,642 nm | 3,340 nm |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.80 | Mach 0.83 |
| Cabin height | 5'9" | 6'0" |
| Cabin width | 6'0" | 6'10" |
| Baggage | 50 cu ft | 150 cu ft |
| Runway | 5,032 ft | 4,222 ft |
Hawker 850XP — strengths
- —Winglet performance upgrade
- —Quiet cabin (Hawker airframe acoustics)
- —Strong US and European availability
Embraer Praetor 500 — strengths
- —Longest range in midsize class
- —Fly-by-wire flight controls
- —Only flat-floor stand-up midsize cabin
CHARTER PRICING
Indicative pricing
HAWKER 850XP
| Miami → Cabo San Lucas | from $26,400 |
| Geneva → Athens | from CHF 21,600 |
EMBRAER PRAETOR 500
| Geneva → Dubai | from CHF 28,400 |
| Miami → Aspen | from $22,800 |
All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.
EXPERT VERDICT
The Praetor 500 is the stronger all-rounder, but the Hawker 850XP still wins where it counts for the right mission.
the Praetor 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
Praetor 500
3,340 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.
Cabin comfort
Praetor 500
Taller and/or wider cabin (6'0" × 6'10") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.
Group capacity
Praetor 500
Seats up to 9 — the right pick when the manifest grows.
Airport access
Praetor 500
Shorter 4,222 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.
Speed & block time
Praetor 500
Cruise of Mach 0.83 — 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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Charter the Hawker 850XP or the Praetor 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 Praetor 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 Praetor 500
- ★Reaches 3,340 nm non-stop — 26% more range than the Hawker 850XP, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
- ★Cruises at Mach 0.83, 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 9 passengers vs 8 on the Hawker 850XP — better for full-group charters and family travel.
- ★Lands in 4,222 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 3,340 nm legs of the Praetor 500 keep reserves intact.
Larger party charters
Up to 9 seats vs 8 on the Hawker 850XP — the natural pick when the manifest grows last-minute.
Short-field departures
4,222 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 Praetor 500 (2,642 nm vs 3,340 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
- −Maximum 8-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 8 — the Praetor 500 adds 1 seat.
- −Slightly slower in cruise than the Praetor 500 (Mach 0.80 vs Mach 0.83).
- −Lower ceiling than the Praetor 500 (5'9" vs 6'0") — stand-up movement is restricted.
- −Needs more runway than the Praetor 500 (5,032 ft vs 4,222 ft) — fewer short-field options.
EMBRAER
Embraer Praetor 500
PROS
- +Longest range in midsize class
- +Fly-by-wire flight controls
- +Only flat-floor stand-up midsize cabin
- +Longer legs than the Hawker 850XP (3,340 nm vs 2,642 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
- +Carries up to 9 passengers vs 8 on the Hawker 850XP — better for larger groups.
- +Faster cruise (Mach 0.83) 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 PICKPraetor 500
Larger cabin seats the full group (7–9).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 02
Family of six on a 1,500 nm leisure trip with stand-up cabin needs
OUR PICKPraetor 500
Larger cabin seats the full group (7–9).
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 PICKPraetor 500
Larger cabin seats the full group (7–9).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS
Best pick per route
| ROUTE | DISTANCE | RECOMMENDED | WHY |
|---|---|---|---|
| London → Moscow | 1,500 nm | Praetor 500 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Geneva → Marrakech | 1,250 nm | Praetor 500 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Teterboro → Aspen | 1,580 nm | Praetor 500 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Paris → Cairo | 1,800 nm | Praetor 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 Praetor 500 — frequently asked
Hawker 850XP vs Praetor 500: which has the longer range?OPEN
The Hawker 850XP has a published range of 2,642 nm; the Embraer Praetor 500 is rated at 3,340 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.
Which is faster — Hawker 850XP or Praetor 500?OPEN
Cruise speeds are Mach 0.80 for the Hawker 850XP and Mach 0.83 for the Embraer Praetor 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 Praetor 500 seats 7–9. 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 Praetor 500?OPEN
Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Hawker 850XP from from $26,400, Embraer Praetor 500 from from CHF 28,400. 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 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 × PRAETOR 500 CLUSTER
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