 The first flight of the prototype Model 300 took place on September 3, 1983 and deliveries commenced the following year.Because not all nations would then allow an aircraft of this type to be certified at an MTOW greater than , the Model 300LW was also developed at the same time, limited to the lower MTOW.Nineteen examples of a special version of the Model 300 were delivered to the FAA in 1987 and 1988.