Citation X Grows Winglets

Friday, September 10, 2010 at 11:57 PM ET

Verified

Cessna Citation X equipped with
Winglet Technologies winglets as
an aftermarket STC modification
installed by Cessna. Cessna

Key Takeaways:

The Cessna Citation X is an extreme aircraft known for being the fastest civilian jet (Mach .92), but its high-speed design incurs an economic penalty in fuel consumption and can limit range in certain conditions.
Winglets have been developed as an STC conversion to enhance the Citation X's performance, specifically improving efficiency and extending range without compromising its signature top speed.
The added winglets allow the Citation X to climb faster to higher, more fuel-efficient altitudes, extending its range by hundreds of miles and improving payload capacity and operational flexibility in hot and high conditions.
Despite the $593,000 cost and a 150-pound weight increase, the winglets offer an average 5% fuel savings, help avoid en route fuel stops, and are projected to retain 100% of their value at resale, while maintaining the aircraft's original flying qualities.

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In many ways the Cessna Citation X is an extreme airplane. Its radically swept wing, huge wing-to-fuselage fairing and enormous vertical fin are unique in the business jet world. The X looks like it does because that’s what it took to reach the goal of being the fastest civilian airplane now in service.

With its limit speed of Mach .92 the X can cruise up to about 528 knots true airspeed. A more typical fast jet cruise speed is around Mach .82, which equals about 470 knots. And lots of jets, particularly the extremely popular Boeing 737, cruise well under Mach .80, which is 459 knots. The Citation X does stand out.