Cessna's latest light business jet offering, the Citation M2, is on target for year-end certification and first deliveries following the successful maiden flight of the first production model on 23 August.
During the 2h flight, the six-seat aircraft reached an altitude of 17,500ft (5,338m) and "completed a large portion of the production test flight procedures", says Cessna. The Williams International FJ44-powered twinjet was launched two years ago as a step-up model between the entry level Mustang and the light-cabin CJ2+.
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Cessna The Citation M2 made its maiden flight on 23 August |
The M2 features the Garmin G3000 avionics suite, offering design commonalities with the larger jets in the Citation family such as the midsize Latitude and high-speed X, which are scheduled for service entry in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
"When we announced the M2 we knew a need existed for a jet of this size, capability and value," says Brad Thress, Cessna senior vice president of business jets. "You will see operator feedback and owner insight practically everywhere you look in the M2," he adds.
The $4.4 million aircraft has a range of 2,405km (1,300nm), a maximum cruise speed of 400kt (740km/h) and a useful load of more than 1,725kg (3,800lbs).
Source: Flight International
