Looks like the bankruptcy judge just didn't see bonuses in the cards for HBC leadership right now.
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Judge Nixes Bonuses to Top Execs.

(8/27/12, R. Hegeman, AP) WICHITA, Kan. – A bankruptcy judge nixed on Friday a proposal to give eight top Hawker Beechcraft executives up to $5.3 million in bonuses, ruling the plan merely rewarded them for staying at their jobs. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stuart Bernstein ruled that the bonus plan sought by the Kansas plane maker set the bar too low to qualify as anything other than a retention program for insiders. Bernstein said that nothing in his opinion is meant to denigrate the efforts of top managers or minimize their contributions to the success of the bankruptcy case. But he said the so-called Key Employee Incentive Plan does not meet legal standards which require "challenging goals" before such bonuses are allowed in bankruptcy proceedings.

Wow, that may be a first. It seems like every BK I've seen the bonuses have been rubber stamped. I wish I could believe some sanity was entering the process, but I suspect that's too optimistic.

Well for all those who had to hit the road because of poor financial performance it seems a little odd to hand out pay rewards without their actually fixing anything. The judge spoke on the matter. What amazes me is the gall they had in asking for them.

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Hawker’s T-6 trainer learns to attack

(AOPA ePilot, 9/20) Hawker Beechcraft’s T-6A Texan began life as a trainer, but has reversed its letters to become the AT-6 bad boy of the ground attack industry. A successful third round of testing shows that the former student plays well with existing weapons systems including .50-caliber guns, bombs, and rockets. The company hopes its successes on the testing ranges boost chances of winning a U.S. Air Force contract, and continue to attract nations hungry for economical defense systems...

Hawker Beechcraft sheds more jobs

(J. Moore, AOPA Online, 11/8/12) Layoff notices will be sent to about 410 Hawker Beechcraft employees, as the company plans to close facilities in three locations and shut down its business jet production. The Wichita Eagle reported that 60-day notices will be issued Nov. 9 to affected employees in Wichita, Kan., where the company is based, along with Little Rock, Ark., where the last of the Hawker business jets are being completed. Job cuts will also be made in San Antonio and Mesa, Ariz., the Eagle reported, quoting from a letter to employees signed by CEO Steve Miller and Chairman Bill Boisture:“While extremely difficult decisions, these closures and reductions in force will get the company closer to what we envision for our go-forward plan that focuses on turboprop, piston, special mission and trainer/attack aircraft, as well as parts, maintenance, repairs and refurbishment businesses,” the letter said. Hawker Beechcraft filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May, and recently discussed the failed attempt to negotiate a sale to a Chinese buyer. The collapse of that deal was followed by announcements that the Hawker jet line would be closed, and the company will seek to terminate warranty coverage for many, though not all, of its business jets. The latest round of job cuts push the 2012 total reduction in workers to 1,021 employees in Wichita alone, the Eagle reported.

Damn shame - beautiful aircraft to fly. But, perhaps they should have created a less dirty (aka oil streak producing) aircraft that costs 6.9 million when it's probably worth 3-4.

They wanted to charge the USAF 24 million to produce "-1" publications, aka a checklist. No wonder they didn't get the contract, and hence got the bankruptcy!

Wichita Eagle editorial: Beechcraft forging ahead

(Wichita Eagle, 2/7/13, R. Holman) Recent days have provided welcome relief from the uncertainty over Hawker Beechcraft’s bankruptcy. Now the newly named and refocused "Beechcraft Corp." can concentrate on its future not only in the global market for turboprop, piston and military aircraft, but also in its hometown. Last week the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York gave its final approval to Hawker’s reorganization plan, the last step as the company emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Soon Bill Boisture will reassume the title of CEO from Robert “Steve” Miller, the turnaround specialist who has spent the past year in the top job. The company has secured $600 million in exit financing and cut costs by having the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. take over two of its retirement plans. To its credit, and to the Machinists union’s satisfaction, the plan also means the 3,000 current and laid-off workers represented by the union still will have retirement benefits. Those are encouraging outcomes...

A The situation of the Super Tucano being designed elsewhere but contract built in CONUS really is quite similar to the T-6 program. Ask Pilatus who designed the HBC T-6.

Latest update:

Beechcraft unveils new small attack airplane - kwch.com

Weapons System design and procurement is one of the DOD's ugliest stories.

The recent Tanker program shows the incredible manipulations that go on over many years just to purchase a simple off-the -shelf item.

Buying a foreign system is like shooting ourselves in the groin.

I'm confused..:confused:...the AT-6 has been around for a while, am I missing something?