GRAHAM WARWICK / ORLANDO
Twinjet aimed at owner-flown market, with US certification anticipated in June 2006
Cessna has boosted the credibility of the embryonic personal jet market with the launch of its Citation Mustang at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) show in Orlando, Florida. First flight is scheduled for May 2005, leading to US certification in June 2006.
Purchase agreements for close to 200 aircraft, secured by $10,000 deposits, had been signed by the end of show, where a full-scale mock-up of the six-seat Mustang was unveiled. The $2.3 million introductory price is available until year-end. Production is expected to reach 150-200 aircraft a year.
The all-metal Mustang is larger than other personal jets under development, with a take-off weight between 3,530kg and 3,720kg (7,800-8,200lb) compared to the Eclipse 500's 2,130kg. Cruise speed is 340kt (600km/h), ceiling 41,000ft (12,500m), range 1,300nm (2,400km) and take-off distance 950m (3,120ft).
Selection of the 1,350lb (6kN) thrust-class digitally controlled engines is expected by year-end, with Cessna evaluating the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615 and Williams International FJ33. This is the engine companies' second head-to-head contest at Cessna, which selected the FJ44-3 over the PW645 to power the Citation CJ3 light jet, also unveiled at NBAA.
A supplier for the Mustang's integrated glass-cockpit avionics has yet to be selected. To minimise production costs the aircraft will have a lot of standard equipment, including datalink, and few options, says vice-president marketing Roger Whyte. Cessna must decide whether to build the Mustang in Wichita or at its plant in Independence, Kansas.
The Mustang is aimed at the owner-flown market, to replace piston twins and turboprops. Competing aircraft include the EADS Socata TBM700 and Beech-craft King Air C90 single- and twin-turboprops. Whyte says Cessna was "well on its way" to building a proof-of-concept singe-turboprop aircraft when it decided 18 months ago to switch to a twinjet.
The Mustang resembles Cessna's entry-level Citation CJ1 - and is only slightly smaller overall - but has an all-new straight wing. The four-passenger cabin is slightly smaller but includes a toilet.
Source: Flight International
