Farnborough saw a first on 13 July as the world’s fastest commercial aircraft touched down after completing its first ever transatlantic flight.
The newly certificated Citation X+ - which entered service last month with a verified maximum speed of Mach 0.935 – flew from Cessna’s factory in Wichita, Kansas to Presque Isle, Maine then made the 2,790nm (5,160km) non-stop leg to Cessna’s facility at Paris Le Bourget airport.
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The midsize business jet completed its journey at TAG Farnborough airport adjacent to the air show site.
The $22 million X+ was launched in 2010 as an upgraded version of the then 14-year old Citation X. The 12-seat X+ is powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce AE3007C2 turbofans – the latest version of the AE3007C that powers the Citation X.
The type also features a Garmin G5000 flightdeck, an increase in maximum payload to 1,140kg (2,500lb), a boost in maximum cruise speed to 530kt (982km/h) from 460kt, and an increase in range to 3,410nm (6,320km). The X+ also features a longer cabin and winglets as standard.
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According the Kriya Shortt, senior vice-president, sales and marketing for Cessna's parent company Textron Aviation, the X+ has been "very well received" by the market. “We have delivered a few aircraft since it entered service. The X+ is certainly helping to revive interest in our midsize offering,” she says.
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Source: Flight Daily News
