Cessna Citation X+ Certificated, Deliveries Begin
Cessna Aircraft Company announced that it has earned Federal Aviation Administration type certification of the new Citation X+ mid-size business jet, the world’s fastest civil aircraft.
Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc announced that it has earned Federal Aviation Administration type certification of the new Citation X+ mid-size business jet, the worlds fastest civil aircraft. Deliveries commenced immediately with the first going to Gerry Buchheit of Orchard Park, N.Y., who owns and operates road construction and commercial real estate development companies. Named the Citation X+ to reflect the aircrafts evolution from the Citation X, the new Citation X+ has seating for up to 12 passengers, a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet, a maximum speed of Mach 0.935 (617 mph, 536 knots) and an increased max range of 3,408 nautical miles.
The most distinct outward difference with the evolved Citation X+ is the addition of winglets, allowing the aircraft to cruise efficiently at higher altitudes and to consume less fuel, as well as improving takeoff and landing performance at higher elevations or on hot days. Powered by two FADEC-controlled Rolls-Royce AE3007C2 turbofan engines, the Citation X+ can fly above most commercial traffic and some adverse weather at a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet. The flight deck is centered on the Garmin G5000 avionics package with four full-color touch-screen LCD control panels and three 14-inch high-resolution displays, as well as fully integrated auto throttles. Standard Garmin Synthetic Vision Technology on the primary flight displays gives the crew a virtual reality view of runways, terrain, traffic and obstacles. More than 6,600 Citations have been delivered to customers around the world since the first Cessna Citation business jet was put into service in 1972. Citations are the largest fleet of business jets in the world and have surpassed 30 million flight hours.