FLUG REVUE first flight gallery: Cessan Citation CJ2+

First Flight Gallery: Cessna Citation CJ2+

Read the original first flight press release:

CESSNA'S CITATION CJ2+ TAKES FIRST FLIGHT

Wichita, Kansas, April 4, 2005 – Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), marked a major milestone for its new Citation CJ2+ as the company celebrated the aircraft's first flight on Saturday, April 2, 2005. Piloted by Cessna Engineering Test Pilots Don Alexander and Jon Cooper, the conformed CJ2+ prototype took to the air from Mid-Continent Airport at 10:03 AM (CST). During the two-hour and six-minute test flight, the pilots flew an aggressive flight profile to test basic stability, flap and landing gear extension and retraction, controllability, trim actuation, engine operating characteristics and basic autopilot operation.

A crowd of excited Cessna team members greeted the airplane when it landed at 12:09 PM (CST). Cessna's Chairman, President and CEO Jack J. Pelton congratulated the pilots as they disembarked.

“Compared to the CJ2, the CJ2+ offers customers enhanced performance and the most advanced avionics suite for this class of airplane,” said Cessna's Chairman, President and CEO Jack J. Pelton. “Orders for the CJ2+ have been strong, and we're confident they'll continue to increase as we near certification.”

“The Citation CJ2+ first flight was a great success,” said Norm Baker, Citation CJ1+ and CJ2+ program manager. “The CJ2+ team did an exceptional job building this airplane, and they should be very proud. This is the first major step towards obtaining CJ2+ certification and delivering the first airplane.”

The Citation CJ2+ will be manufactured on the production line where Cessna is currently manufacturing the Citation CJ1, CJ2 and CJ3. This consolidation of production lines is enabled by Cessna's lean manufacturing advancements, whereby Cessna can build a CJ1+, CJ2+, or CJ3 airframe on the same advanced module tooling. This lean technology allows Cessna to adjust Citation CJ1+, CJ2+ and CJ3 production rates more efficiently, and deliver airplanes to customers with shorter lead times.

Cessna anticipates certification for the Citation CJ2+ in the fourth quarter of this year, and first customer deliveries in the second quarter of 2006. The next Citation CJ2+ available for sale will be delivered in the second quarter of 2007.

The Citation CJ2+ was announced at the 2004 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and is the successor to the Citation CJ2. It is powered by Williams' FJ44-3A-24 dual-channel FADEC engine, which offer the advantage of better thrust specific fuel consumption and FADECS compared to the CJ2's current engine. The Citation CJ2+ is equipped with the Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite. It is designated as a model 525A, and will serve single pilot operators.

Cessna Aircraft Company is a subsidiary of Textron Inc. Textron is a $10 billion multi-industry company with more than 44,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.

For additional information or questions about the general aviation industry, contact the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) at 202-393-1500 or www.GAMA.aero

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Last updated 7 April 2005

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