Textron Aviation announced this week that the first production Cessna Citation Longitude has rolled out of the factory in Wichita, Kansas.
The Longitude is a clean-sheet design aimed at the super-midsize corporate jet market, with a projected range of 3500 nm and seating for up to 12 passengers.
“The Citation Longitude sets a new standard in the super-midsize segment, not only through the aircraft’s design and performance, but also in the way we are manufacturing it,” said Ron Draper, senior vice president, Integrated Supply Chain.
“We’re incorporating a number of new and innovative fabrication and assembly techniques that will improve processes, reduce the number of parts and provide excellent quality and precision that will aid in the overall maintainability of the aircraft.”
This aircraft will join the company’s demonstration fleet this summer and will travel the world to showcase the Longitude’s capabilities and interior to customers.
The first Longitude flew in October 2016 and to date, the flight test program’s four aircraft have accumulated more than 550 hours. A fifth aircraft will join the flight test program this summer.
The Longitude is expected to enter the market by the end of 2017.