There will always be a soft spot in my heart whenever I see an ancient Cessna Citation sitting unnoticed by most on an FBO ramp. The CE-500 was the first type rating I ever added to my ATP certificate a few decades ago. While the cockpit, indeed the entire aircraft, appear rather ancient by today’s standards, that Citation II I flew for a charter company was built like and acted much like a Chevy Suburban does on land. There seemed to be little that could or did go wrong with the aircraft and it always brought everyone home safely. ATC often referred to the airplane as a “slowtation,” because of its 340-knot flight-planned speed. A good day found us cruising at FL350. Attempt to climb to altitudes much higher, and the Citation quickly ran out of steam. But it was still a jet.
Textron Celebrates 50 Years Since Citation’s Inaugural Flight
Key Takeaways:
- Cessna's Citation series recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking five decades since the original Citation 500's first flight in September 1969.
- Originating from Cessna's military trainer experience, the Citation series has built a legacy of reliability with over 7,500 airframes flying more than 35 million hours.
- Textron Aviation continues to innovate, offering a diverse family of seven current Citation business jet models, ranging from light jets like the M2 to the super-midsize Longitude, focusing on enhanced technology and passenger comfort.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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