Cessna’s second prototype Citation Latitude flies in Wichita

Second prototype Citation Latitude taking off on first flight

Cessna Aircraft announces that the second prototype Citation Latitude has flown for the first time.

Second prototype Citation Latitude taking off on first flight

Cessna Aircraft announced that the second prototype Citation Latitude business jet made its maiden flight on 25 July 2014, taking off from Wichita, Kansas.

This flight marks the latest in a series of on-time milestones for the programme, all of which have occurred on or ahead of schedule.

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Serial 002 is the third Citation Latitude to join the certification flight test programme and is the first aircraft that will be equipped with an operational configuration, including full cabin layout and systems.

This is the aircraft tha will make its debut in October at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual event in Orlando.

Chris Hearne, vice president, jet aircraft at Cessna, says: “The focus of the Latitude team has been on designing and producing the highest quality aircraft, on time that meets our customers’ requirements, and today’s flight was right in line with expectations. We’re looking forward to its public debut at NBAA.”

This flight for Serial 002 lasted 2.7 hours and was flown by engineering test pilots Andrew Peters and David Stanko. Serial 002 reached a maximum altitude of 45,000 ft and a maximum speed of 305 knots and 0.80 Mach.

The Latitude certification flight test programme has amassed more than 330 hours in more than 150 flights.