Photograph:
Cessna 525 CitationJet VH-CIT (c/n 525-0100) at Nowra, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Light corporate business and executive aircraft
Power Plant:
Two 1,900 lbst Williams Rolls FJ44 turbofans
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 14.25 m (46 ft 9 in)
- Length: 12.98 m (42 ft 7 in)
- Height: 4.19 m (13 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 22.3 m² (240 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed at 3,992 kg (8,800 lb) at 10,670 m (35,000 ft): 704 km/h (437 mph)
- Stalling speed landing configuration: 152 km/h (94 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 1,009 m/min (3,311 ft/min)
- Max certified altitude: 12,500 m (41,000 ft)
- Range with max fuel, 45 mins reserve: 2,750 km (1,708 miles)
- Empty weight: 2,856 kg (6,298 lb)
- Loaded weight: 4,717 kg (10,400 lb)
History:
The Cessna 525 CitationJet was announced at the National Business Aircraft Association Convention (NBAA) in 1989 as the Company’s replacement for the Cessna 500 Citation and Citation I series. The first flight of the prototype (N525CJ) was made on 29 April 1991, the second prototype flying on 20 November that year.
Late in 1992 the Model 525 received FAA certification for single pilot operation, and customer deliveries began on 30 March 1993. Effectively a new aircraft design, as compared with the Citation I, the CitationJet had the fuselage shortened by 0.27 m (10¾ in) and had the wingspan reduced by 0.57 m (1 ft 10½ in). Height inside the cabin was increased by 13 cm (5 in) by lowering the centre aisle. It was fitted with a new supercritical laminar-flow wing, a high T-tail, and two new Williams Rolls FJ44 turbofans.
In 1998 the Company revealed it was developing improved variants known as the Model CJ-1, and the longer fuselage Model CJ-2. The Model CJ-1 replaced the CitationJet on the production line, introducing a Collins Pro Line 21 EFIS avionics suite and an increase in maximum take-off weight, first deliveries of this model commencing in 2000. The Model CJ-1 had accommodation for a crew of one or two, and seating for five in the cabin.
The Model CJ-2 was a stretched variant. With the cabin lengthened by 89 cm (35 in), the fuselage lengthened to 14.30 m (46 ft 11 in), thus allowing for six passengers in the main cabin, it also had Collins Pro Line 21 EFIS avionics, up-rated 2,300 lbst Williams Rolls FJ-44C engines, wingspan increased to 15.18 m (49 ft 10 in) and a max take-off weight of 5,585 kg (12,300 lb).
Examples of the series registered in this region have included CitationJet CJ-1s: VH-CIT (c/n 525-0100) from September 1997 to May 1991 when it became VH-KXL with Edwards Coaches Pty Ltd of Armidale, NSW; VH-MOJ (c/n 525-0138) from April 1996 with Dramatic Investments Pty Ltd; VH-ANE (c/n 525-0063) from October 2002 with Malmet (QLD ) Pty Ltd; and CitationJet CJ-2 VH-MOR (c/n 525A-0063) from October 2002 with Morgan & Co Pty Ltd of Perth, WA.