First production Cessna CJ3+ makes maiden flight

first production Cessna Citation CJ3+ taking off on its first flight

Cessna Aircraft announces that the first production Citation CJ3+ makes its first flight from Wichita facility.

first production Cessna Citation CJ3+ taking off on its first flight

Cessna Aircraft has announced the successful maiden flight of the first production Citation CJ3+ from the company’s manufacturing facility in Wichita.

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Mark Tuttle, production flight test pilot, said all systems performed as expected during the 73 minute flight. The new aircraft was first announced in March this year, and Federal Aviation Administration certification is expected later this year.

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Chris Hearne, vice president, jets, says: “Response to the CJ3+ has been excellent; customers recognize the value proposition of the airplane with its Garmin G3000 flight deck along with upgraded interiors and systems throughout.”

“The CJ3+ is engineered for superior reliability without sacrificing efficiency and comfort, and is offered with best-in-class acquisition and direct operating costs,” adds Hearne.

The Citation CJ3+ features the Garmin G3000 avionics suite.

The aircraft has a range of up to 2,070 nautical miles, the CJ3+ can fly passengers nonstop from Washington, DC to Mexico City; from San Diego, California to Juneau, Alaska; or from Lima, Peru to São Paulo, Brazil. The CJ3+ is expected to receive single-pilot certification and has maximum seating capacity for nine passengers.