Cessna has announced its new Citation Ten business jet is on track to make its first flight by the end of the year.
The prediction that the newest and largest member of the 10-strong Citation biz jet family will fly in 2011 was made at this week’s European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva and is the latest in Cessna’s bid to maintain the enviable title of producing the fastest civilian aircraft in the world. Long held by the Cessna Citation X, the predecessor of the Ten, Cessna's right to that title is now being challenged by Gulfstream’s G650, which is currently in the latter stages of its flight test program.
The Citation Ten is a mid-size business jet with uprated design and performance, enabling it to fly higher, faster and further than the existing Citation X (model 750). First announced at the 2010 National Business Aviation Association convention, the Citation Ten is 15 inches longer than the Citation X and designed for greater fuel efficiency and increased comfort for up to nine passengers and two pilots.
Its two Rolls-Royce AE 3007C2 engines will take the 16,601kg MTOW Citation Ten off the ground in 1567 metres (5140 feet) and give the aircraft a maximum cruise speed of 976 km/h (527 knots) and a certified ceiling of 15,545 meters (51,000 feet). The Ten has a maximum range of 6010km (3245 nautical miles).
Up front it features the Garmin G5000 integrated flight deck, arguably the most intuitive pilot-aircraft interface ever seen in a business avionics suite.
While the first customer Citation Ten delivery won’t be made until the second half of 2013, you can get a sneak peak at this seriously impressive aircraft via a video preview by clicking here.
(Cessna)
