Cessna Citation X

Cessna Citation X
Name	Cessna Citation X
Type	Business jet
Manufacturer	Cessna
First flight	21 December 1993
Introduced	1996
Status	In service
Produced	1996–2018
Number built	338

Cessna Citation X. The Cessna Citation X is a mid-size, long-range business jet manufactured by Cessna, a division of Textron Aviation. It was developed in the early 1990s to be the fastest civilian aircraft in its class, a title it held for many years. The aircraft is renowned for its high-speed cruise performance, powered by two Rolls-Royce Allison turbofan engines, and features a spacious cabin designed for transcontinental and intercontinental travel.

Development and design

The program was launched in 1990 by Cessna under the leadership of Textron to create a high-speed successor to earlier Citation family models. The design team, collaborating with NASA on advanced aerodynamics, focused on a new supercritical wing and a powerful propulsion system. Key partners included Rolls-Royce, which supplied the Allison AE 3007C engines, and Honeywell, which provided the integrated avionics suite. The prototype, constructed at Cessna's facility in Wichita, Kansas, first flew in December 1993, leading to Federal Aviation Administration certification in 1996. The design emphasized a high Mach number cruise capability, making it a direct competitor to jets like the Gulfstream IV.

Operational history

Upon entry into service in 1996, the aircraft quickly gained a reputation for speed, often utilized for rapid connections between major business centers like New York City and Los Angeles. Primary operators have included corporate flight departments, fractional ownership programs such as NetJets, and charter services worldwide. The type has been used for various missions, including air ambulance roles and government transport. Its performance allowed it to set several city-pair speed records, cementing its status within the National Business Aviation Association community. The later Citation X+ upgrade further extended its operational relevance in the fleet of operators like Flexjet before production ended in 2018.

Variants

The initial production model was designated simply as the Citation X. An upgraded version, the **Citation X+**, was announced at the 2010 National Business Aviation Association convention and entered service in 2013. The X+ variant featured improved Rolls-Royce engines for better hot-and-high performance, an updated Garmin G5000 avionics suite, and cabin enhancements. No other major variants were developed, though some aircraft were completed with special mission configurations for customers like the United States Army. All models were assembled at the Cessna plant in Wichita, Kansas.

Specifications (Citation X)

* **Crew:** 2 pilots * **Capacity:** Up to 12 passengers * **Length:** 72 ft 4 in (22.0 m) * **Wingspan:** 63 ft 11 in (19.5 m) * **Height:** 19 ft 2 in (5.8 m) * **Empty weight:** 22,635 lb (10,267 kg) * **Max takeoff weight:** 36,600 lb (16,600 kg) * **Powerplant:** 2 × Rolls-Royce Allison AE 3007C turbofan engines * **Maximum speed:** Mach 0.935 (614 kn, 1,137 km/h) * **Cruise speed:** Mach 0.92 (605 kn, 1,120 km/h) * **Range:** 3,808 nmi (7,052 km) * **Service ceiling:** 51,000 ft (15,545 m) * **Avionics:** Honeywell Primus 2000 or Garmin G5000 suite

Operators

The aircraft has been popular with large fractional ownership companies, most notably NetJets and Flexjet, which have operated sizable fleets. Other major corporate operators include General Electric, Toyota, and Bombardier. Government and military operators have included the United States Army for personnel transport and the Italian Air Force. Many aircraft are also managed by charter operators based in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, such as VistaJet and Air Charter Service.

Accidents and incidents

The safety record has been generally good, but several notable accidents have occurred. In November 2015, a NetJets-operated aircraft overran the runway at Akron–Canton Airport in Ohio; there were no fatalities. A fatal crash occurred in October 2014 near Wichita, Kansas, during a post-maintenance test flight, killing the two Cessna pilots on board. Another incident in May 2017 involved a hard landing at Aspen–Pitkin County Airport in Colorado, resulting in substantial damage but no serious injuries. Investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board have typically cited factors like pilot error or icing conditions.

Category:Business jets Category:Cessna aircraft Category:United States civil utility aircraft 1990–1999