Kate Sarsfield/WICHITA
The final Cessna Citation VII mid-size business jet was set to roll off the assembly line in Wichita, Kansas, on 15 September, marking an end to Citation 650 series production, started in 1983 with the launch of the Citation III. The VII's future was placed in doubt two years ago with the launch of the $12 million Sovereign, Cessna's newest addition to the popular mid-size market.
Serial No119 will be delivered to US food processing company United Foods, which also took delivery of the first Citation III.
The Citation VII entered service in 1992. Notable owners include Executive Jet Aviation, which in 1996 ordered 20 aircraft for its NetJets fractional ownership programme, and veteran golfer Arnold Palmer, who has since acquired the larger Citation X.
The Sovereign is slated for certification and first delivery in the third quarter of 2003 and the first quarter of 2004, respectively, a year later than originally touted. Sovereign programme director Brad Thress says: "We have been concentrating on existing programmes [CJ1, CJ2 and the Encore], but work is underway with the Sovereign and we are in the throes of releasing detailed design drawings."
Cessna has begun building the aircraft's primary structures, including the wing and fuselage, and plans to begin the mating process for the cyclic fatigue article in mid October. The company appointed Fokker Aerostructures of the Netherlands to build the Sovereign's empennage, although Cessna is likely to build the first three test articles.
The testing process will consist of one prototype and two pre-production aircraft, two compete test airframes for cyclic fatigue and static strength, as well as 23 ground test and 11 structural articles. Thress adds: "We want to iron out any problems on the ground and make the aircraft as mature as it can be for first flight." European certification is scheduled within 12 months of US approval.
Source: Flight International
