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The first Cessna business jet was a six seater designed to operate from shorter airfields that were usually populated by light-to-medium twin turboprops. A FanJet 500 prototype flew in September 1969, and there followed a number of design changes before the aircraft received FAA certification two years later on 9 September 1971, certificate A22CE. Renamed the Cessna 500 Citation business jet, it now had a longer forward fuselage, repositioned engine nacelles, a larger tail and added dihedral to the horizontal tail.

Textron made the first delivery in January 1972. It was the first business jet to feature a fan jet engine, and Textron claimed it set new standards in economy, ease of operation and low noise levels, referring to it as the ‘sensible Citation’.

The Citation was powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT15D-1 turbofan engines and these, along with straight rather than swept wings, made it cruise more slowly than other business jets. Thus it earned the nicknames Slowtation and Nearjet; vulnerable to bird strikes from the rear.

In early 1976, its wing span was increased from 43.9 to 47.1 ft. It also gained thrust reversers and higher gross weights.

Production ended in 1985.

• Typical passenger capacity:   6
• Range:   910 nm (full seats) 1,130 nm (ferry)
• Cruise speed:   345 - 355 kts
• Cabin height:   4.25 ft
• Cabin width:   4.75 ft
• Cabin length:   12.58 ft
• Cabin volume:   223 cu ft

• Active fleet worldwide:   441
• Available for charter worldwide:   28
• Typical price:   $291,000 to $1,295,000 pre-owned.
• Production dates:   1971 - 1985

The original Citation jet, with eight seats, later evolved into Citation I and the 501 Citation I/SP for single-pilot operation

• Engines:   Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D Series

Variant types

	World fleet	Charter fleet	Typical pax	Cabin volume	Cruise	Range	Years
Citation I	180	8	6	223 cu ft	348 kts	910 nm	1971 - 1977
Citation I SP	261	20	6	223 cu ft	322 kts	910 nm	1977 - 1985

 

Supplemental Type Certificates

Browse or search through all recent STCs.

25/11/2022

EASA: 10080739. Cessna Citation ADS-B Upgrade. Activation of ADS-B DO-260B capabilities with existing UNS-1Lw FMS as GNSS source. Citation II, Citation I, Citation S/II, Citation V STC holder: Sirium Aerotech

 

Charter operators

Mexico	ND Aerotaxis
U.S.A.	Aero National , Air Trek , Buzz Air , Cadre Aviation Services , Hera Flight , Honaker Aviation , JetsPlus , Plane Travel , Private Jets , Suburban Air Freight , UAC Charter

Maintenance centres

Canada	Aero Aviation , AircraftWorks , Aries Aviation Services Corporation , Aviation Unlimited , Brant Aero , Carson Air , Cavalier Aviation , Central Aircraft Maintenance , Chartright Air Group , Conair Aviation , Corporate Aircraft Restorations , Davis Aircraft Services , Eagle Aircraft , Execaire , Fast Air , Flite Line Maintenance , Flying Colours Corp. , Foster Aircraft Maintenance , Handfield Aviation , Harbour Air Aerospace Services , Hill Aircraft Service , Kenn Borek Air , KF Aerospace , Lake Central Air Services , Leggat Aviation , Maple Leaf Aviation , New United Goderich , Okanagan Fix Wings , RiseAir , Starlink Aviation , Textron Aviation Canada , Toronto Aircraft Maintenance , Upper Valley Aviation , WCS Aviation
Mexico	Aerosignal , ASI Aerosoluciones Internacionales , Monterrey Jet Center
U.S.A.	ACI Jet MRO , AeroCheck MRO , Altus Aerospace , Apex Aviation , APR Aviation , ASG Aerospace , Aviators Plus , Baker Aviation , Banyan Air Service , Bismarck Aero Center , Broadie's Aircraft & Engine Service , Carolina Aviation Technical Services , Causey Aviation Service , Central Flying Service , Chantilly Air , Chicago Executive Service Center , Columbia Air Services , Contour Aviation Maintenance , Cutter Aviation , Des Moines Flying Service , Desert Jet Maintenance , DFW Aviation , Dumont Aviation , Eagle Aviation , Edwards Jet Center , Elliott Aviation , Elliott Aviation , Elliott Aviation of Atlanta , Emery Air , Fargo Jet Center , Flightcraft , Flying Colours Corp. , Friend Aircare , FTair , G. H. Enterprises , Hawkeye Aviation , J.A. Air Center , JAG Aviation , Jet Access Maintenance , Jet Access Maintenance , Jet Air , Jet East, a Gama Aviation company , JetEXE Aviation , JetRight Aviation Maintenance , Keystone MRO (AZ) , Lane Aviation Corporation , Legacy Aviation Services , Lone Star Aviators/ LSA Aviation Services , Metrea Aviation Services , Monarch Air , Naples Jet Center , OK3 Air , Precision Air , Precision Aircraft Maintenance , Precision Jet Service , Premier Aviation Services , Premier Jet Center , Private Jet Maintenance , Propel Aviation Sales & Services , RBR Maintenance , Ross Aviation Flight Maintenance , Santa Fe Aero Services , Shoreline Aviation , Signature TechnicAir (BZN) , Signature TechnicAir (FAT) , Signature TechnicAir (FDK) , Signature TechnicAir (GRR) , Signature TechnicAir (INT) , Signature TechnicAir (MSP) , Signature TechnicAir (OMA) , Signature TechnicAir (STP) , Skyservice Bend , SkyShare , SkyWay MRO Services , SoCal Jet Services , SoCal Jets , StandardAero (IAH) , Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems (FTY) , Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems (GYH) , Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems (MQY) , Straight Flight , Sunrise Jets , Textron Aviation (Greensboro) , Textron Aviation (Houston) , Textron Aviation (Indianapolis) , Textron Aviation (Mesa) , Textron Aviation (Milwaukee) , Textron Aviation (New York) , Textron Aviation (Orlando) , Textron Aviation (Sacramento) , Textron Aviation (San Antonio) , Textron Aviation (Tampa) , Textron Aviation (Wichita) , Textron Aviation Satellite Service Center - Dallas , Toledo Jet Center , Toledo Jet Center , University Air Center , West Star Aviation , West Star Aviation , West Star Aviation , West Star Aviation , Winner Aviation Corporation , Wisconsin Aviation (MSN) , Yingling Aviation

Completions centres

U.S.A.

Capital Aviation , Premier Jet Center

Type rating training providers

U.S.A.

Executive Flight Training , FlightSafety Atlanta Learning Center , Loft Aero , Premier Jet Training , Recurrent Training Center , SimCom Aviation Training , SkyBlue Jet Aviation

News from Business Air News

Citation owners eye Blackhawk's Garmin GI-275 installation

December 5, 2023

The current standby instrument systems in Citation 500/501/550/S550/560/560XL series aircraft has become difficult and costly to repair. The STC provides a cost effective and easily installed solution.

Read the full report

Blackhawk close to tick for GI-275 on Citation series

April 25, 2023

Citation 500 series aircraft owners looking for a turnkey solution to their ageing standby instrument systems will soon be able to update with the new Garmin GI-275 electronic installation.

Read the full report

Ontic on to a winner with JT15D parts deal

November 2, 2020

Read the full report

Textron marks a half century of Citation innovation

September 21, 2019

Read the full report

December 3, 2014	Me & My Aircraft – Small jets: Buyers are spoilt for choice in crowded small jet segment
July 9, 2012	Me & My Aircraft: Fresh contenders will bring the best technology to the light jet arena

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