The first production version of the new Citation M2 made its first flight last Friday from Cessna's Independence, Kansas, facility.
It is the latest in a string of new Cessna business jets to be introduced, and certification is due by the end of the year.
"The aircraft performed exceptionally well today,” said Cessna production flight test pilot Terry Martindale. “We departed Independence and proceeded to an altitude of 17,500 feet. Through the almost two-hour flight, we completed a large portion of the production test flight procedures.
"This is the first aircraft equipped with the Garmin G3000 avionics, and the system goes beyond what people might be expecting in terms of familiarity, versatility, situational awareness and ease of use. You can sense that pilots designed the cockpit. Everything is where you need it to be.”
Brad Thress, Cessna senior vice president of business jets, points out that the entire aircraft was design using customer input.
"When we announced the M2 less than two years ago, we knew a need existed for a jet of this size, capability and value,” he said. “You will see operator feedback and owner insight practically everywhere you look in the M2. The Garmin G3000 avionics are familiar to pilots while at the same time bring advances they want with features they need."
The Citation M2 features two Williams FJ44 engines and a cruising speed of up to 400 KTAS. It can climb to 41,000 feet in 24 minutes, is single pilot certified, has a useful load of 1727 kg and a range of 1300 nm.