Nextant Aerospace announced late last week that a fully equipped 400XT–powered by new Williams FJ44-3AP engines and carrying Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics–made its first flight on September 8 from Cuyahoga County Airport near Cleveland. According to Nextant president James Miller, “The 400XT operated flawlessly and exceeded our expectations for the first flight.” The next step, he said, is to begin the flight tests of the aircraft, culminating in STC approval of the FJ44-3AP on the airplane in next year’s first quarter. The $3.9 million 400XT is a “remanufactured” Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP with FJ44-3AP engines, Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, a new interior and fresh paint. Additionally, the airframe is zero timed to make it a “like new” light jet when combined with the new engines, interior and exterior paint, according to Nextant. The eight-passenger upgraded twinjet is expected to have a range of 2,000 nm, about 400 nm more than that of the original Beechjet 400A (four pax, NBAA IFR reserves). Operating costs are expected to fall by 30 percent compared with the stock version. A fully equipped 400XT, with finished cabin interior, is to be on display at the NBAA Convention next month in Atlanta.