Duncan Aviation is showcasing a Hawker 800XP after a complete refurbishment by Duncan Aviation’s full-service facility in Battle Creek, Michigan. The aircraft left the Duncan Aviation facility having received engine inspections, airframe maintenance, winglets, Gogo AVANCE L5, a stand-by instrument replacement, and a paint and interior overhaul.

The owner wanted a clean, sleek, and modern interior, so Carie Bruss, project manager, Duncan Aviation, who was lead designer, gave the aircraft a “showroom” look by including white upholstery, dark woodwork paired with white-gold accents, and LED lighting.

Bruss drew inspiration from a photo of an interior colour palette and seat design that the owner was drawn to from a different airframe. She developed the design by creating a diamond pattern design and modified the pulls and stitching so that it was tailored more towards the owner’s particular seat frame.

There was a veneer trim piece on the lower sidewalls that the owner wanted the Duncan Aviation team to remove and replace with a plated trim piece. The Duncan Aviation technicians milled grooves into an aluminum strip to achieve an updated look, perfectly complementing the owner’s vision.

While the cabinetry may appear black at first glance, it is in reality a very dark chocolate-brown. The sunlight is said to reveal the warm undertones of the veneer, preventing the interior from feeling too cold. The aft countertop received Duncan Aviation’s hydrographic finish treatment with a white marble pattern, and Prizm colour-changing LED lighting was also installed.

The owner knew he wanted the exterior to complement the interior, and already had an idea of what he wanted for a paint scheme. He came to the Duncan Aviation Design team for guidance on the final greys to use for the stripes and wanted to ensure the exterior would flow with the interior. The scheme they landed on was a white fuselage with a dark gray tail and horizontal stab. Flowing grey stripes on the fuselage and tail are designed to help visually lengthen the aircraft and tie in the interior color palette.

“This Hawker has by far one of the most stunning interior and exterior colour palettes,” says Bruss.

Jack Bauder, who was a lead designer at the time and assisted with this project, said when the aircraft delivered it was completely unrecognisable compared with its original condition.

“If I hadn’t been a part of the project, I wouldn’t have believed it’s the same aircraft,” said Bauder. “The transformation was that dramatic. The transformation from what the aircraft looked like coming in, to what it transformed into was stunning.”