The first flight of Cessna’s newly launched light business jet Citation M2 is likely to be in the first half of 2012

Cessna has launched the Citation M2, a new light business jet that fills the gap between the Citation Mustang and the Citation CJ family. The Citation M2 features Garmin G3000 avionics, engines similar to those found in the Citation CJ series and an all-new cabin design. The aircraft is an aluminium airframe with a T-tail and a straight wing that includes LED lights. A cabin mockup of the Citation M2 will be on display at Cessna’s exhibit in the Las Vegas Convention Center during the 64th National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual meeting and Convention to be held from October 10 to 12, 2011.

With room for two crew members and up to six passengers, the $4.195 million Citation M2 has a maximum cruise speed of 400 knots true air speed (741 kilometres per hour) and a range of 1,300 nautical miles (2,408 kilometres). The aircraft can operate at airports with runways as short as 3,250 feet (991 metres) and will climb to 41,000 feet (12,497 metres) in 24 minutes.

“Operator feedback and owner insight have indicated a market for a Citation with the size, speed and range of the Citation M2. We expect to see customers new to the Citation family, Mustang owners looking for a logical next step or CJ1+ operators who want a new, more advanced Citation,” said Scott Ernest, President and CEO, Cessna.

The Citation M2 is powered by a pair of FADEC-controlled Williams International FJ44-1AP-21 turbofan engines, each producing 1,965 pounds of thrust. This new and improved version of Williams’ FJ44 engine incorporates improvements gleaned from more than six million hours of operation of the 4,000 FJ44 engines in service. The FJ44-1AP-21 produces 10-15 per cent more altitude thrust (depending on conditions) and consumes less fuel at long-range cruise than the previous version, enabling the M2 to climb quickly and cruise fast and far. The engine also provides significantly higher performance at hot and high conditions and an increase in the time between overhaul (TBO) from 3,500 to 4,000 hours.