Cessna CitationJet news release

2
News Release Cessna Observes 20 th Anniversary of CitationJet’s First Flight WICHITA, Kan., April 28, 2011 Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, tomorrow will observe the 20 th anniversary of the maiden flight of the CitationJet prototype. On April 29, 1991, pilots Bob Leonard and Bob Carnahan took off from Wichita’s Mid- Continent Airport, reached an altitude of 10,000 feet and checked handling and trim characteristics, engine response and more. Powered by two Williams-Rolls FJ44 advanced turbofan engines, the CitationJet was the first business jet to use a true natural laminar-flow wing. These features allowed for a roomier cabin, faster speeds and more range than the original Citation 500 and its replacement, the Citation I. The acquisition and maintenance costs of the six-passenger, T-tailed CitationJet attracted many first-time Citation owners. “The price and the performance of Williams International’s all-new FJ44 series advanced turbofan engines allowed Cessna engineers to create an entirely new generation of light business jets with the CitationJet,” said Jack J. Pelton, Cessna’s chairman, president and CEO. “The CitationJet was a success from the moment it was announced at NBAA in 1989 and was instrumental in Cessna today boasting 6,100 Citations, the largest fleet of business jets in the world. “Many of the concepts that made the CitationJet an impressive breakthrough influenced the development of future Citations, such as the Citation X and Citation Excel,” he added. The CitationJet prototype was eventually joined by other pre-production aircraft for the certification program. FAA certification was achieved in 1992 and deliveries began in 1993. The CitationJet rapidly became one of the world’s most popular light jets and inspired an entire family of aircraft (the name was shortened to CJ): the CJ1, CJ1+, CJ2 and today’s current production versions, the CJ2+, CJ3 and CJ4. Cessna delivered 359 CitationJets, and today the CJ series fleet has surpassed 1,450 aircraft.

description

News release I wrote in early 2011 detailing the 20th anniversary of the maiden flight of the CitationJet prototype. The news release earned Cessna wide coverage in industry publications and it resulted in a cover story in Flying magazine.

Transcript of Cessna CitationJet news release

Page 1: Cessna CitationJet news release

News Release

Cessna Observes 20th Anniversary of CitationJet’s First Flight

WICHITA, Kan., April 28, 2011 — Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT)

company, tomorrow will observe the 20th anniversary of the maiden flight of the CitationJet

prototype.

On April 29, 1991, pilots Bob Leonard and Bob Carnahan took off from Wichita’s Mid-

Continent Airport, reached an altitude of 10,000 feet and checked handling and trim

characteristics, engine response and more.

Powered by two Williams-Rolls FJ44 advanced turbofan engines, the CitationJet was the

first business jet to use a true natural laminar-flow wing. These features allowed for a roomier

cabin, faster speeds and more range than the original Citation 500 and its replacement, the

Citation I. The acquisition and maintenance costs of the six-passenger, T-tailed CitationJet

attracted many first-time Citation owners.

“The price and the performance of Williams International’s all-new FJ44 series advanced

turbofan engines allowed Cessna engineers to create an entirely new generation of light business

jets with the CitationJet,” said Jack J. Pelton, Cessna’s chairman, president and CEO. “The

CitationJet was a success from the moment it was announced at NBAA in 1989 and was

instrumental in Cessna today boasting 6,100 Citations, the largest fleet of business jets in the

world.

“Many of the concepts that made the CitationJet an impressive breakthrough influenced

the development of future Citations, such as the Citation X and Citation Excel,” he added.

The CitationJet prototype was eventually joined by other pre-production aircraft for the

certification program. FAA certification was achieved in 1992 and deliveries began in 1993. The

CitationJet rapidly became one of the world’s most popular light jets and inspired an entire

family of aircraft (the name was shortened to CJ): the CJ1, CJ1+, CJ2 and today’s current

production versions, the CJ2+, CJ3 and CJ4.

Cessna delivered 359 CitationJets, and today the CJ series fleet has surpassed 1,450

aircraft.

Page 2: Cessna CitationJet news release

Hi-res image — Photograph of the Cessna CitationJet prototype’s first flight, taken on April 29,

1991.

###

Cessna is the world’s leading general aviation company. Since its inception in 1927, Cessna has designed, producedand delivered more than 192,500 airplanes around the globe. This includes more than 6,100 Citation business jets, making it thelargest fleet of business jets in the world. Today, Cessna has two principal lines of business: aircraft sales and aftermarketservices. Aircraft sales include Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine utility turboprops, single-engine piston aircraft andlift solutions by CitationAir. Aftermarket services include parts, maintenance, inspection and repair services. In 2010, Cessnadelivered 535 aircraft, including 179 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of $2.6 billion. More information about CessnaAircraft Company is available at cessna.com.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and financebusinesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerfulbrands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and TextronSystems. More information is available at textron.com.