Best San Antonio Aircraft: Beechjet 400A

Light Jet, Not Light on Performance

The Beachjet 400A has been a strong contender for entry level jets during its seventeen years of production. It improves upon the original Beechjet 400 in several ways, including cabin volume, takeoff weight and fuel efficiency.

This jet has a maximum range of 1,519 nm, thanks to two Pratt and Whitney JT15D-5 turbofan engines giving it a thrust of 2,900 lbs.

This particular jet comes with a coffee pot, an enclosed lavatory, Freon air conditioning, an ice bin, a lavatory, leather seats, a ski tube and satellite radio.

Years of Tweaking

The jet was originally designed as the Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond in 1978. Seven years later, Mitsubishi sold the rights to Beechjet, who reworked the craft into the Beechjet 400. By the 1990s, Raytheon and Beechjet reworked the jet even further into the Beechjet 400A. This jet became the basis for the T-1 Jayhawk used by the Air Force.

The Beechjet 400A's storied history makes it a venerable jet for GiveJet charters to and from San Antonio.