WICHITA, Kan., Dec. 23, 2013 – Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, is today celebrating the first deliveries of the Citation M2 light jet following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification.
Brad Thress, Cessna senior vice president of business jets, says: “Cessna is once more redefining the light jet segment with the Citation M2. We’re proud to get the M2 into the marketplace and see the aircraft begin to set the standard for the next generation of business aviation.”
Thress continues: “The Citation M2 is a versatile aircraft that fits many markets and missions, attracting owner-operators looking for an advanced, innovative aircraft of this size, capability, and value. Our launch customer, Stuart Woods, represents this type of customer: owners moving up from their Citation Mustang. Further, many new M2 owners are upgrading from a turboprop, while still others are moving laterally to a newer, same-size business jet. With its single-pilot certification, the Citation M2 has room for six passengers and is faster than many comparable aircraft, making it a strong performer in this segment.”
The Citation M2 was announced in September 2011 with a design driven by customer and pilot feedback. First flight of the Citation M2 prototype occurred in March 2012 and the first production unit flew in August 2013. The development and certification process involved more than 150,000 engineering hours and two aircraft flying nearly 1,000 flight test hours and 360,000 nautical miles.
The Citation M2 has a maximum cruise speed of 400 knots true airspeed (460 miles per hour) and a range of 1,300 nautical miles. The aircraft can operate at airports with runways as short as 3,250 feet and will climb to 41,000 feet in 24 minutes. The Citation M2 is certified for single-pilot operation and features two Williams FJ44 engines. The aircraft can easily handle non-stop legs such as Houston, Texas-Washington D.C.; Chicago-Miami, Fla.; Frankfurt-Moscow; and Dubai, U.A.E.-Mumbai, India.
The M2’s clean cockpit design features Cessna’s proprietary Intrinzic™ flight deck powered by Garmin G3000 avionics with high-resolution multifunction displays and split-screen capability. Touch screen interactivity comparable to a smartphone provides pilots with precise performance information they need in a logical, familiar user interface. From the cockpit divider aft through the rear lavatory, the main passenger cabin of the Citation M2 is 58 inches wide and 11 feet long with a 5-inch dropped aisle providing a cabin height of 57 inches. Eight large windows, roomy adjustable seats and intuitive controls highlight the all-new cabin.
About Cessna
Cessna is the world’s leading general aviation company. Since its inception in 1927, Cessna has designed, produced and delivered nearly 200,000 airplanes around the globe. This includes 6,500 Citation business jets, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. Today, Cessna has two principal lines of business: aircraft sales and aftermarket services. Aircraft sales include Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine utility turboprops, single-engine piston aircraft and lift solutions by CitationAir. Aftermarket services include parts, maintenance, inspection and repair services. In 2012, Cessna delivered 571 aircraft, including 181 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of $3.111 billion. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at cessna.com.
About Textron
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at textron.com.