The new owners of Hawker Beechcraft are starting on a high note. The company announced greatly improved first-quarter earnings last week, with net sales in the first quarter of this year up 32.3 percent from the same period a year ago, to $667.8 million. Hawker Beechcraft delivered 60 turbine aircraft in the first three months of this year, placing it second overall in terms of units shipped. Sales during the first quarter, however, dropped to $499.5 million from $513.8 million in the same period last year. Second-quarter sales should receive a boost from a NetJets Europe order for 32 Hawker 4000s announced at EBACE last month. To meet the product support needs of its growing fleet, Hawker Beechcraft hired William Brown as president for global customer support. Brown replaces Randy Groom, who decided to “take some time with his family and explore new career opportunities,” according to Hawker Beechcraft. Brown hails from the airline maintenance industry, most recently as president and general manager of AAR Aircraft Services.