Cessna Citation family
When Citation is a family of aircraft of the American manufacturer Cessna. All aircraft are twin engine and fall into the division of business aircraft. They are 12 to 23 feet long and form next to the Learjet series, the most successful family of aircraft in its class. Originally the concept was introduced in 1968 under the name fanjet 500 as a dummy. In 1969, the first flight compared to the initial design extended machine was already derived from a famous race horse named Citation.
- 2.1 fanjet 500
- 2.2 Cessna Citation III
- 2.3 Cessna Citation V
- Cessna Citation Jet 2.4
- Cessna Citation Excel 2.5
- 2.6 Other Models
Development
First generation
Cessna 's aim was to design a jet, which have both low operating and construction costs as should also be safe and easy to handle. Added to this was the goal to build a jet engine that could compete with smaller propeller aircraft to achieve even smaller airports. Cessna developed a pressurized airplane cabin, retractable tricycle landing gear and unswept wings. The engines were mounted laterally on the tail and the fin height was above the exhaust plume. It was the fanjet 500, whose first flight took place on 15 September 1969. A pattern approval was granted in 1971 after a change in the engine position and an extension of the hull. The approval that are already on the name Cessna Citation 500 was followed in 1972 with first delivery.
In 1976, the Cessna Citation I to the market, which was characterized by an increased maximum takeoff weight, greater range, longer wings and a thrust reverser. In addition, the engines, the Citation I / SP (Model 501) were revised in 1977 and offered the greatest innovation was the single pilot certification, which means that they could be flown by a single pilot. In March 1978, followed by an extended variant of the Citation I, the Citation II (Model 550), which was equipped with the improved Pratt & Whitney JT15D -4 engines, which contributed 1.3 kN more thrust. She was available since the launch of the SP version. From the Citation I nearly 700 pieces were produced and delivered. 1984 Citation II was provided by the revised variant Citation S / II (Model S -550 ) replaced, which in turn was replaced in 1997 by the more powerful Citation Bravo.
1987 began the development of the Cessna Citation V (Model 560), which made its first flight in August of the same year and in 1989 delivered the first time. Until the replacement in 1994 a total of 262 Cessna Citation V were produced and delivered.
Successor was the Citation Ultra, which was first delivered in 1994 and by the new Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D - 5D engines had a longer range and was much more economical. Total built Cessna 340 aircraft of this pattern.
The Citation Encore Cessna again increased the range by using the newly developed Pratt & Whitney PW530A engines. The approval was granted in April 2000, the replacement by the Citation Encore in early 2007. This revision is distinguished mainly by a revised avionics and FADEC system, and re modification to the engines ( PW535B ).
Second generation
With the Citation III ( Model 650 ) 1979 Cessna introduced a completely new aircraft before. The largest differences were a 25 degree swept wings and a T-tail. The first flight took place on 30 May 1979, the first delivery in 1983. Through two turbofan engines of the model Honeywell TFE731 a maximum cruise speed of Mach 0.81 and a service ceiling of 15,500 meters (51 000 ft ) could be achieved. The Citation III could carry up to 13 passengers, but was mostly designed for 7-9 people. Until the replacement 1992 202 machines of this type were built.
1989 Cessna announced a revised version of the Citation III, Citation IV This model should have larger fuel tanks and a shorter take-off landing distance. However, the development has been set, even before the first prototype was built.
Instead, Cessna introduced in 1992 two new aircraft on the market:
The Citation VI and Citation VII Both machines completed its first flight in 1991, but the production of the Citation VI was set in May 1995 after just 39 units built. The Citation VII, however, impressed with a substantial increase in the range of revised engines. This is also the problem of dependence on the weather was dissolved in hot weather by the density altitude, which had led in the Citation III to common problems. Within a nine year long production period, 119 aircraft were built and delivered this type.
In October 1994, the Cessna Citation Excel (Model 560XL ) was presented. The prototype flew on 29 February 1996 for the first time and the first machine was passed shortly after the approval in April 1998 to its buyer. The body is from the Citation III and was also used in the variants VI, VII and X.
The current market version, Citation XLS , was authorized on 30 May 2008 and delivered in late September of the same year for the first time in America. The market launch in Europe is scheduled for this year ( 2009). Compared to its predecessor, the Citation XLS, XLS has a revised avionics and improved engines. In addition, here was, as in the Citation Encore , a FADEC system is used.
To date, more than 200 Cessna Citation Excel, XLS and XLS have been built and delivered. For the XLS are 225 orders.
Third Generation
In 1989, Cessna Citation I in front of the successor, the Citation Jet (model 525 ). The first flight took place on 29 April 1991. It was followed by the approval on 16 October 1992 and the first delivery in March 1993. Replaced 1998 Cessna Citation Jet by the CJ1 and CJ2 the extended version. Both versions are essential efficient and equipped with a new electronics. In April 2006, both of which are replaced by versions CJ1 CJ2 and wherein when not only the avionics CJ2 is improved, but also increase the operating range. In September 2002, Cessna announced the development of a re- extended version under the name CJ3. My first flight was on 17 April 2003, the launch in December 2004. For 2010, the launch of the CJ4 is planned, which made its first flight on May 5, 2008. Also it provides an extension of its predecessor dar. All aircraft of this generation may be flown by one pilot.
Fourth generation
When Cessna introduced its first aircraft on the market in the 1970s, the machines were considered to be comfortable and practical, because of their low start- off and landing distance, so they can start on small airfields and landing. With the passage of time, however, came up with the image of the slow jets, as the aircraft up to 100 km / h flew slower compared to competitors Learjet. To counteract the Cessna introduced in October 1990 in New Orleans before a new aircraft, the III based on the fuselage of the Citation.
The Citation X ( Model 750 ) reaches a maximum cruising speed of 972 km / h and revolutionized the entire business of business jets. To date, it is the fastest business flyer in the world and one of the economically most effective. After initial construction defects of the prototype took off on 21 December 1993 for the first time. In June 1996, the first delivery in America, 1998 and 1999, the approvals for Canada and Europe followed. In 2000, Cessna announced a revised version that came on 1 January 2002 on the market.
Based on the Citation Excel was presented in 1998, the Citation Sovereign (Model 680). This midsize jet should fill the gap between the Citation Excel and Citation X. This was followed by the first flight on 27 February 2002 and the first delivery in September 2004.
The emerging interest in Very Light Jets turned the Cessna Citation Mustang ( Model 510 ) counter. The just 3000 kg light jet has four seats and can be equipped with a fifth. First flight was on 23 April 2005 with first delivery on 23 November 2006.
For 2014, the introduction of the latest and greatest model of the Citation series was planned, the Cessna Citation Columbus. Although the Board had approved the release of $ 780 million on 23 January 2008, the project was put on hold in April 2009 and completely discontinued in July 2009. This was due to the financial crisis and the resulting decline in demand. The plan was an aircraft with a total length of 23.5 meters and a range of 7500 kilometers, but a lower travel speed than the Citation X. The first flight was planned for 2011, in October 2008 there were already 70 orders before. To date, more than $ 50 million had been invested in the development.