de Havilland DH.125

de Havilland DH.125

Initially known as the Jet Dragon, the de Havilland Aircraft Company DH.125 was the first in a generation of executive jets that started its life in the late 1950s. The DH.125's success was such that derivatives of the type remained in production for some 50 years after its first flight in 1962.

The DH.125 is a low-winged, twin rear jet engined monoplane, with a slightly swept wing and large slotted flaps for ease of operation in and out of small airfields. The type was not the first executive jet however, being pre-dated by both the Jetstar and the T-39 Sabreliner, but it is most certainly the longest lived of the breed.

Designed by the de Havilland Aircraft Company at Hatfield to replace the piston engined de Havilland DH.104 Dove, it was intended to meet a list of variables demanded by business users, including a 1,000+ mile range, speed and efficient economics. The prototype DH.125 (G-ARYA) first flew on 13th August 1962, by which time de Havilland had already come under the control of the Hawker Siddeley Group. Hawker Siddeley had initially continued using the traditional former company names for its aircraft, but when Hawker Siddeley Aviation began trading in 1964, the original parent firm’s names were quietly dropped. The aircraft name was changed to the Hawker Siddeley HS125 and production began at the Broughton factory, near Chester.

Hawker Siddeley HS125

Just eight HS125 Series 1 aircraft were built before it was superceded by the more powerful HS125 Series IA (the 'A' denoting America) and HS125 Series 1B (the 'B' denoting the rest of the world).

The RAF were significant buyers of the HS125, operating the aircraft in airborne training and air force navigation roles. RAF aircraft were designated HS125 Dominie T1 and served for over 45 years before finally retiring in 2011. Twenty HS125 Series 2 aircraft were purchased by the Royal Air Force as the HS125 Dominie, powered by the 3,000 lbst Bristol Siddeley Viper 301 engine. The first HS125 Dominie (XS709) flew on 30th December 1964. The HS125 Series 2 was followed by the Series 3, 3A, 3B , all fitted with the 3,360 lbst Bristol Siddeley Viper 522 engines (a total of 64 were built).

Progressive development under Hawker Siddeley and subsequently British Aerospace saw the introduction of a number of variants as follows

• HS125 Srs 400 (117 built)
• HS125 Series 600 (70 aircraft built including prototype G-AYBH with the Bristol Siddeley Viper 601) 
• HS125 Series 700 (215 built including prototype G-BEFZ)
• HS125 Series 800 (more than 275 built including prototype G-BKTF)
• HS125 1000 (52 built including prototype G-EXLR).

 
The HS125 saw major success in the United States with over 400 having been flown and operated in the US. At its peak one aircraft was being sold every 7 days. Hawker Siddeley became part of British Aerospace upon its creation in 1977 and the versions that appeared after that date are predominantly known as the BAe125, although it was often still marketed as the HS, or Hawker 125.

BAe 125

British Aerospace continued the type’s development under the heading of BAe Corporate Jets Ltd, based at Hatfield, with production continuing at Broughton. With a fast-expanding business jet market, the BAe125 and its fore-runners saw continued operational success around the world.

During the 1990s British Aerospace had two variants in production with the 125-800 and the 125-1000 (which had first flown on 16th June 1990), the latter featuring the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW300 engine which gave it inter-continental ability. The Series 800 had a further engine upgrade, increase in wingspan and tailfin extension. The prototype (G-BKTF) was flown on 26th May 1983 and the type provided the basis of the C-29A, purchased by the USAF to replace their Lockheed Jetstar communications aircraft.

By this time Beechcraft had become a US sales partner, with aircraft sold in the United States being referred to as Beechcraft Hawker BH125. Following the sale of BAe Corporate Jets to the Raytheon Corporation in June 1993, production of the BAe 125 ceased in the UK although development continued in the United States as the Hawker 800 and Hawker 1000.
 

Raytheon and Beechcraft

Beechcraft subsequently became part of the Raytheon Group and after the sale of BAe Corporate Jets, development of the type continued under the Raytheon Hawker, and Raytheon designations. After further financial re-organisation, development of the type continued solely under the name Hawker Beechcraft.

The 1,000th aircraft of the family was delivered in April 1998 and it is a real tribute to the initial design that it should achieve such longevity, predominantly through progressive development that helped it remain competitive to the present day. Including subsequent developments through Raytheon and Hawker Beechcraft, the production total is around 1,700 aircraft.