Cessna Citation M2 Makes First Flight

Bethany Whitfield

Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 08:31 PM ET

Verified

** Cessna CEO Scott Ernest congratulates
test pilot Pete Fisher after the first flight of
the Citation M2 prototype.**

Key Takeaways:

The Cessna Citation M2 successfully completed its maiden flight, lasting 1.5 hours, with the test pilot describing its performance and handling as "exceptional."
The new business jet, based on the CJ line, features Garmin G3000 avionics and Williams International FJ44 engines, boasting a projected range of 1,300 nautical miles and a top speed of 400 knots.
Cessna is prioritizing a speedy development, aiming for FAA certification in the first half of 2013 with deliveries of the $4.195 million aircraft expected to commence later the same year.

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One of Cessna’s newest bizjets, the Citation M2, took to the skies on Friday for its maiden flight, remaining airborne for approximately an hour and half as the prototype’s crew conducted the first round of preliminary tests of the aircraft’s Garmin G3000 avionics suite, autopilot and engines.

During the flight, which also included tests of other aircraft systems as well as instrument approaches, Cessna test pilot Peter Fisher said the M2’s performance and handling was “exceptional.”