Cessna Mustang Readies for the Rodeo

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Cessna hit another milestone last week in the development of its newest entry-level business jet, the Citation Mustang. The Wichita, Kan.-based company completed a successful first run of the Mustang’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F engines, which is another step leading toward a hoped-for first flight this summer. Cessna is more than ready for things to happen. It has 230 firm, non-refundable orders for the $2.4 million, 340-knot, 41,000-foot jet. Cessna installed the engines and the Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADECs) to the prototype airframe in February. And the engine, which is the first P&WC 600 series delivered to any manufacturer, hasnt been sitting idle. It has accumulated more than 210 hours of flight time on the test bed since April of 2004. The engines, each controlled by a dual-channel FADEC, are rated at 1,350 pounds of takeoff thrust at sea level. Engine certification is expected by the fourth quarter of ’05.

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