Photograph:
Cessna 650 Citation III VH-KTI (c/n 650-0144) at Bankstown, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Business and executive transport
Power Plant:
Two 3,650 lbst Garrett AiResearch TFE731-100S turbofans
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 16.3 m (53 ft 6 in)
- Length: 16.9 m (55 ft 5½ in)
- Height: 5.27 m (17 ft 3½ in)
- Wing area: 29 m² (312 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed at 10,670 m (35,000 ft): 874 km/h (543 mph)
- Max cruising speed at 12,500 m (41,000 ft): 850 km/h (528 mph)
- Stalling speed flaps and wheels down at max landing weight: 165 km/h (103 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 1,191 m/min (3,909 ft/min)
- Time to 13,100 m (43,000 ft): 29 mins
- Max certified ceiling: 15,545 m (51,000 ft)
- Range with two crew, six passengers and 45 mins fuel reserve at 776 km/h (482 mph ) at 13,715 m (45,000ft): 4,894 km (3,040 miles)
- Ferry range: 5,150 km (3,200 miles)
- Empty weight: 5,296 kg (11,675 lb)
- Loaded weight: 9,525 kg (21,000 lb)
History:
Although receiving the designation “Citation” in the Cessna corporate jet series, the Citation II was a completely new design which had no commonality with the earlier series, which also remained in production. Two prototypes of the Citation II were built, the first flying on 30 May 1979 and the second on 2 May 1980. Certification was received on 30 April 1983 and deliveries to customers began early in 1983. The Citation II was designed with a NASA-developed super critical wing. Early flight testing revealed that a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.83 was available.
The wing was a conventional two-spar fail-safe structure of light alloy, utilising bonded and riveted construction. The trailing-edge flaps were built of Kevlar and graphite composite. There were four spoilers on the upper surface of each wing, two of these being available for use as airbrakes in flight.
The fuselage was of conventional semi-monocoque light alloy construction with a circular cross-section, and accommodation was provided for a flight crew of two with six to nine passengers. A toilet was provided at the rear, and the cabin was pressurised, heated and air-conditioned. An air-stair was built into the main door.
Power was provided by two Garrett TFE 731-3b-100s turbofans, fitted with hydraulically-operated thrust reversers as standard. Fuel was carried in two independent systems in each wing with a total usable capacity of 4,183 litres (920 Imp gals).
First of the type in this area was N106CC (c/n 650-106) imported in 1986 by Brierley’s, which was expected to become ZK-MKI, but in the event operated with its US registration.
First of the type registered was Citation III VH-KTI (c/n 650-0144) in July 1988 which was exported to the United States in June 1991; Citation III VH-OZI (c/n 650-0037) imported in September 1992 and exported to the United States in August 1996; Citation VII VH-ING (c/n 650-7104) from November 1999 with Inghams Holdings Pty Ltd.
An example became VH-SPJ (c/n 650-0101) but the registration was changed to VH-XLK in November 2019, being operated by Flight Options (Australia) Pty Ltd of Mudjimba, QLD. Others have operated in the region in the markings of foreign operators and local operators with foreign registrations.